Bill Text: VA HJR9 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Constitutional amendment; marriage between two individuals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 28-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-09 - Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections by voice vote [HJR9 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR9-Prefiled.html
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:
Amend Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:
Section 15-A. Marriage Fundamental right to
marry.
That only a union between
one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this
Commonwealth and its political subdivisions the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent
in the liberty of persons, and marriage is one of the vital personal rights
essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a
legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to
approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage deny the issuance of a marriage license to two
parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or
race of such parties. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political
subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal
status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or
effects of marriage This Commonwealth and its
political subdivisions shall recognize any lawful marriage
between two parties and treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless
of the sex, gender, or race of such parties.
Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
