Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk may issue order.
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “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; clerk; issuance of order; bond requirement.” Read the full text
2026 session
What it does
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
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · Jan 13, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 437 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
1
sponsor on the bill
Sponsors
Alfonso H. Lopez
Recorded votes
Senate amendments agreed to by House (73-Y 24-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-03-11 · P · Y 73, N 24, X 2
Passed Senate with amendments (24-Y 16-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-10 · P · Y 24, N 16
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-09 · P · Y 40
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 5-N)Senate · 2026-03-05 · P · Y 9, N 5, X 1
Read third time and passed House (75-Y 22-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-10 · P · Y 75, N 22, X 3
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment(s) (21-Y 1-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-04 · P · Y 21, N 1
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 1-N)House of Delegates · 2026-01-28 · P · Y 7, X 3, N 1
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 437.