HB 459 VA

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Became Law

Crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information; hate crimes. Prohibits a law-enforcement agency from disclosing to the public information that directly or indirectly identifies the victim of a hate crime, defined in relevant law, except to the extent that disclosure is (i) of the site of the crime, (ii) required by law, (iii) necessary for law-enforcement purposes, or (iv) permitted by the court for good cause unless such victim, or his next of kin if he is a minor and his death results from any crime, provides written consent. The bill also prohibits, at the request of the victim, the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia from listing the first or last name of the victim of a hate crime in an appellate decision.

• Laura Jane Cohen Democratic · primary

1. Jan 12, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100507D · lower
2. Jan 12, 2026 Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice · lower
3. Jan 21, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459) · lower
4. Jan 29, 2026 Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal · lower
5. Jan 30, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) · lower
6. Feb 4, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) · lower
7. Feb 6, 2026 Read first time · lower
8. Feb 9, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
9. Feb 9, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
10. Feb 10, 2026 Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-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. Feb 18, 2026 Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A) · upper
14. Feb 20, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
15. Feb 20, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
16. Feb 20, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
17. Feb 23, 2026 Read third time · upper
18. Feb 23, 2026 Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
19. Feb 25, 2026 Enrolled · lower
20. Feb 25, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB459ER) · lower
21. Feb 25, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459) · lower
22. Feb 25, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
23. Feb 25, 2026 Signed by President · upper
24. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · lower
25. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
26. Apr 6, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 147 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
27. Apr 6, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0147) · 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
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML