Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices, sexual orientation and gender. (SB822)

Introduced By

Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg) with support from co-patron Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices; sexual orientation and gender identity. Adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful housing practice. The bill defines sexual orientation and gender identity. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
11/09/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100197D
11/09/2016Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/10/2017Impact statement from DPB (SB822)
01/23/2017Reported from General Laws and Technology (11-Y 3-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2017Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2017Read second time and engrossed
01/27/2017Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2017Placed on Calendar
01/31/2017Read first time
01/31/2017Referred to Committee on General Laws
02/06/2017Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4
02/14/2017Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (2-Y 4-N)
02/21/2017Left in General Laws

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 2 clips in all, totaling 2 minutes.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.



Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield): NOT SMOKING MARIJUANA. BY THE WAY, I MIGHT MENTION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THREE OF THE LAST FOUR PRESIDENTS PUBLICLY ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD SMOKED POT, ALTHOUGH ONE CLAIMED THAT HE DIDN'T INHALE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT BELIEVES THAT. BUT ANYWAY -- AND GOD ONLY KNOWS


[Unknown]: RACIAL AND DENOMINATIONAL LINES. WE THANK YOU, FATHER, RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU WILL GET ALL THE GLORY TODAY, YOU WILL GET ALL THE HONOR AND ALL OF THE PRAISE. WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, MADD WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. ALL THESE BLESSINGS WE ASK IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. LET EVERYONE SAY AMEN. AMEN.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL, ALL THOSE PRESENT WILL PLEASE VOTE AYE. THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

[Unknown]: CLERK: YOU HAVE A QUORUM, MR. PRESIDENT. SENATE JOURNAL FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 2017.

Del. Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg): THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM LOUDOUN, SENATOR BLACK MAKES A MOTION TO WAIVE THE READING OF THE JOURNAL. ALL IN FAVOR OF WAIVING THE READING OF THE JOURNAL WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES AYE, OPPOSED NO. ARE THE SENATORS READY TO VOTE? HAVE ALL THE SENATORS VOTED? DO ANY SENATORS DESIRE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE? THE CLERK WILL CLOSE THE ROLL.

Sen. Dick Black (R-Leesburg): AYES 35, NOS 1.

[Unknown]: THE READING OF THE JOURNAL IS WAIVED, THE CLERK WILL PLEASE REPORT ANY COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE HOUSE. THE SENATOR FROM JAMES CITY COUNTY, SENATOR NORMENT.

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg): MR. PRESIDENT, I RESPECTFULLY MOVE THAT THE CLERK READ THE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. ON SECOND THOUGHT, I MOVE THAT WE WAIVE THE READING OF THE

Comments

ACLU-VA LGBT Rights, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill that would add discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity to the definition of an unlawful housing practice. The bill defines sexual orientation and gender identity.

Eva King writes:

I support this bill. Considering ongoing efforts to legitimize discriminatory practices by some of our representatives, it is important to clarify this aspect!