RECONVENED SESSION REENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY --–– 2023 RECONVENED SESSION CHAPTER 789R An Act to amend and reenact § 20-25 of the Code of Virginia, relating to persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage;

[HE 2071]N Approved April[H 12,2071] 2023R O Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

That § 20-25 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

Persons other than ministers who may perform rites.rites.d as follows:

L Upon petition filed with the clerk and payment of applicable clerk's fees, any circuit court judge may issue an order authorizing one or more persons resident in the circuit in which the judge sits toEo celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth.

Any person so authorized shall, before acting, enter into bondthat in the penaltyperson ofwould $500,otherwise withbe orqualified withoutfor surety,in asforma pauperis status, the court may direct;waive suchng bond.

however, upon a showing bond.

No oath shall be required of a person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage, nor shall such person be considered an officer of the CommonwealthComAny byjudge virtueor justice of sucha authorization.court of record, any judge of a district court, any retired judge or justice of the Commonwealth, any active, senior, or retired federal judge or justice who is a resident of the Commonwealth, and or any current (i) member of the General Assembly, (ii) Governor of Virginia, (iii) Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and or (iv) Attorney General of Virginia may celebrate the ritHs of 2.

AnyThat judgethe orState justiceRegistrar ofshall aamend courtthe ofform record,furnished anyfor judge of a districtmarriage court,license anyto retiredinclude judgeas or justice of the Commonwealth,celebrant anyon active,such senior,marriage orlicense retiredany federalperson judgeauthorized orby justice§ who20-25 is a resident of the Commonwealth,Code and or any current (i) member of the General Assembly, (ii) Governor of Virginia, (iii)as1 Lieutenantamended Governorby ofthis Virginia,act, andto orperform (iv) Attorney General of Virginia may celebrate the rites of marriagemarriage. anywhere in the Commonwealth without the necessity of bond or order of authorization.

2.R 2

That the State Registrar shall amend the form furnished for a marriage license to include as the celebrant on such marriage license any person authorized by § 20-25 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, to perform rites of marriage.