HB459
Hate crimes; crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Laura Jane Cohen (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. 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) ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100507D
- 01/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/21/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/04/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
- 02/06/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/09/2026 - House: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
- 02/09/2026 - House: Read second time and engrossed
- 02/10/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
- 02/20/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/20/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/20/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/25/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 02/25/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB459ER)
- 02/25/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459)
- 02/25/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 02/25/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
