HB 905 VA

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Became Law

Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk; issuance of order; bond requirement. Provides that a clerk of a circuit court may issue an order authorizing one or more persons to celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth. Under current law, only a circuit court judge may issue such an order. The bill further makes discretionary the entrance into a bond in the penalty of $500 prior to performing the rites of marriage for a person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage; under current law, such entry is mandatory. Finally, the bill civilly immunizes the clerk of any circuit court from a cause of action arising from the issuance or rescinding of such order, absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.

• Alfonso H. Lopez Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104636D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · lower
3. Jan 26, 2026 Assigned HCJ sub: Civil · lower
4. Jan 28, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N) · lower
5. Feb 4, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N) · lower
6. Feb 6, 2026 Read first time · lower
7. Feb 9, 2026 Read second time · lower
8. Feb 9, 2026 committee amendment agreed to · lower
9. Feb 9, 2026 Engrossed by House as amended · lower
10. Feb 10, 2026 Read third time and passed House (75-Y 22-N 0-A) · lower
11. Feb 11, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
12. Feb 11, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · upper
13. Mar 5, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
14. Mar 5, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 5-N) · upper
15. Mar 9, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
16. Mar 9, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
17. Mar 9, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
18. Mar 10, 2026 Read third time · upper
19. Mar 10, 2026 Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to · upper
20. Mar 10, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended · upper
21. Mar 10, 2026 Passed Senate with amendments (24-Y 16-N 0-A) · upper
22. Mar 11, 2026 Senate amendments agreed to by House (73-Y 24-N 0-A) · lower
23. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
24. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB905ER) · lower
25. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
26. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
27. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
28. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
29. Apr 8, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 437 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
30. Apr 8, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0437) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Senate Amendments · HTML
• Courts of Justice Amendment · HTML
• Courts of Justice Amendment · HTML
• Courts of Justice Amendment · HTML
• Engrossed · PDF
• Engrossed · HTML
• Civil Subcommittee Amendment · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML