Text of WV HJR 24 (2009)

skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version « House Joint Resolution 24 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 24 (By Delegates Hamilton, Ireland, Romine, Andes, Rowan, Shott, Blair, Porter, Sobonya, Duke and McGeehan) (Introduced March 18, 2009) Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article III thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-three, relating to defining what constitutes a valid and recognized marriage in this state; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment. Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto: That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2010 and, which proposed amendment is that article III thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-three thereof, to read as follows: ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS. §23. Definition of marriage. Marriage, to be valid and recognized in the State of West Virginia, shall consist only of the legal union between one man and one woman. Neither this Constitution, nor any other provision of law shall be construed to require that marital status, or the legal incidents thereof, be conferred upon any other domestic union that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage. Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment 1" and designated as the "Defense of Marriage Amendment" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "To amend the Constitution of the State of West Virginia to clearly and unequivocally define that the only valid and recognized marriage in the State of West Virginia shall be the legal union between one man and one woman." NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to amend the State Constitution to clearly define what the laws of this state recognize as a valid marriage: Only the legal union between one man and one woman. This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: