Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 17 — Same-sex marriages; civil unions.

Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 195 (effective 7/1/20)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 18, 2019. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    1 primary, 6 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Same-sex marriages; civil unions. Repeals the statutory prohibitions on same-sex marriages and civil unions or other arrangements between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges and obligations of marriage. These prohibitions are no longer valid due to the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015). This bill incorporates SB 39 and is identical to HB 1490.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

9 added · 2 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updates to Bill SB 17 include the addition of various session years and chapters, which helps to clarify its historical context and legislative timeline. This change is important because it allows readers to easily trace when the bill was approved and to see how it fits within the broader legislative framework. By removing the phrase “VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER,” the bill presents a more streamlined title, making it simpler for the public to understand the document without unnecessary complexity.

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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to repeal §§ 20-45.2 and 20-45.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to same-sex marriages;
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTER 195 An Act to repeal §§ 20-45.2 and 20-45.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to same-sex marriages;
[S 17] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 17] Approved March 6, 2020   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
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View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 195 (effective 7/1/20)

  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 6, 2020

  3. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 28, 2020

  4. Signed by President

  5. Signed by Speaker

  6. Enrolled

  7. VOTE: Passage (62-Y 38-N)

  8. Passed House (62-Y 38-N)

  9. Read third time

  10. Read second time

  11. Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 8-N)

  12. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  13. Read first time

  14. Placed on Calendar

  15. Passed Senate (25-Y 13-N)

  16. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  17. Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 13-N)

  18. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB17S1

  19. Committee substitute agreed to 20105902D-S1

  20. Reading of substitute waived

  21. Read second time

  22. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  23. Committee substitute printed 20105902D-S1

  24. Incorporates SB39 (Edwards)

  25. Reported from Judiciary with substitute (9-Y 5-N)

  26. Moved from Courts of Justice to Judiciary due to a change of the committee name

  27. Referred to Committee on the Judiciary

  28. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100591D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 43 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (6)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

VOTE: Passage (62-Y 38-N)

Passed 61 Yea · 38 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 613800
Total 613800
% of votes cast 62%38%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Brewer, Emily M. — Nay
Collins, Christopher E. — Nay
Lindsey, Joseph C. — Yea
Adams, Dawn M. — Yea
Adams, Les R. — Nay
Aird, Lashrecse D. — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Askew, Alex Q. — Yea
Avoli, G. "John" — Nay
Ayala, Hala S. — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Bell, Robert B. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Byron, Kathy J. — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Campbell, Jeffrey L. — Nay
Campbell, Ronnie R. — Nay
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Carter, Lee J. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Cole, Mark L. — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cox, M. Kirkland — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Edmunds, James E., II — Nay
Fariss, C. Matthew — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Gooditis, Wendy W. — Yea
Guy, Nancy D. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Yea
Heretick, Steve E. — Yea
Hudson, Sally L. — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jenkins, Clinton L. — Yea
Jones, Jerrauld C. "Jay" — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Keam, Mark L. — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Kory, Kaye — Yea
LaRock, Dave A. — Nay
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Levine, Mark H. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
McGuire, John J., III — Nay
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Mugler, Martha M. — Yea
Mullin, Michael P. — Yea
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Plum, Kenneth R. — Yea
Poindexter, Charles D. — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Ransone, Margaret B. — Nay
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rush, Nick — Nay
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Samirah, Ibraheem S. — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Nay
Wendell S. Walker — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 8-N)

Passed 14 Yea · 8 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14800
Total 14800
% of votes cast 64%36%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Lindsey, Joseph C. — Yea
Collins, Christopher E. — Nay
Adams, Les R. — Nay
Bell, Robert B. — Nay
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Campbell, Jeffrey L. — Nay
Campbell, Ronnie R. — Nay
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Heretick, Steve E. — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Levine, Mark H. — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Mullin, Michael P. — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Ransone, Margaret B. — Nay
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea

Official roll call →

Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Yea
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Not Voting
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 13-N)

Passed 24 Yea · 13 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 241303
Total 241303
% of votes cast 60%33%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Nay
Chase, Amanda F. — Nay
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Nay
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Nay
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Nay
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Not Voting
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Nay
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Not Voting
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Not Voting
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed Senate (25-Y 13-N)

Passed 25 Yea · 13 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 251302
Total 251302
% of votes cast 63%33%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Nay
Chase, Amanda F. — Nay
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Nay
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Nay
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Nay
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Not Voting
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Nay
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Not Voting
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Not Voting
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Not Voting
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Judiciary with substitute (9-Y 5-N)

Passed 9 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9500
Total 9500
% of votes cast 64%36%0%0%
How each member voted (14)
Member Party Vote
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Nay
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Nay
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 17 do?
Same-sex marriages; civil unions. Repeals the statutory prohibitions on same-sex marriages and civil unions or other arrangements between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges and obligations of marriage. These prohibitions are no longer valid due to the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015). This bill incorporates SB 39 and is identical to HB 1490.
Who sponsors SB 17?
SB 17 is sponsored by Jennifer L. McClellan, Joseph D. Morrissey, Adam P. Ebbin, Kory, Kaye, Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty", Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr., and Edwards, John S..
What is the current status of SB 17?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 18, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 17?
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