Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Virginia Senate advances multiple bills, sends constitutional amendments to the ballot
Summary
The Senate passed a slate of bills on Feb. 2, 2026, including motions to put constitutional amendments on the ballot (marriage equality and reproductive freedom), changes to voter‑registration timing, and several election‑procedure measures. Many uncontested bills advanced in blocks; recorded votes and tallies are listed below.
The Virginia Senate on Feb. 2 moved a large set of bills through third reading and block passage, including measures to submit constitutional amendments to voters and changes to election procedures.
House Bill 612 — marriage equality ballot referral: The senator from Alexandria moved that House Bill 612, a proposed amendment to Section 15‑A of Article I of the Virginia Constitution to remove the same‑sex marriage prohibition and affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex or race, go before the voters. The motion carried (Ayes 24, Noes 16). "This has plain spoken language, to go before the voters on the marriage equality amendment," the sponsor said.
House Bill 781 — reproductive freedom ballot referral: The senator from Northern Fairfax moved passage; the bill carries ballot language to add a fundamental right to reproductive freedom to Article I. The motion carried on a recorded vote (Ayes 21, Noes 19).
House Bill 963 — voter qualifications/restoration ballot referral: The senator from Hampton moved passage of HB963 (same as SJR 2 relative to restoration of voting rights); the motion carried (Ayes 21, Noes 19).
Uncontested bills and block passage: The Senate placed many uncontested Senate bills on final passage in a block (listed by the clerk) and passed the block (voice/roll call as noted on the record). Senators removed individual bills from the block as requested (for example, Senate Bill 302 was pulled for separate consideration and subsequently passed Ayes 39, Noes 1).
Election and voting measures advanced or passed: The body advanced or passed multiple bills affecting voting and elections, including SB52 (extends the time to rectify registration from 14 to 28 days after notice and establishes a 90‑day quiet period before elections; Ayes 21, Noes 19), SB126 (allows a five‑day extension to filing deadlines in special circumstances; Ayes 23, Noes 17), SB136 (changes to probation reflecting stakeholder work; Ayes 31, Noes 9), SB176 (technical changes and expansion for ranked‑choice voting, removes sunset; Ayes 21, Noes 19), SB311 (Senate cognate to the marriage amendment; Ayes 25, Noes 15), SB438 (Sunday in‑person absentee voting requirement advanced) and SB582 (absentee and provisional ballot process updates; passed/advanced as recorded).
Several committee substitutes and substitutes on the second reading calendar were agreed to and bills were engrossed and advanced to third reading in blocks as part of the regular calendar. Sponsors emphasized the bills’ purposes — from improving voter access and election administration to consumer protections in other policy areas — and several items were set aside "for the day" to allow floor or fiscal amendments to be drafted.
What to watch next: The Senate will reconvene at noon tomorrow; bills that were "passed by for the day" or advanced with substitutes may return for final recorded votes. The calendar included additional committee meetings and caucus sessions scheduled after adjournment.
