HB459Introduced in the House of Delegates
Hate crimes; crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information.
Introduced by Laura Jane Cohen, District 15
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0147)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) · February 23, 2026
38
Yes
0
No
2
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100507D
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459)
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N 1-A)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB459ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 147 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0147)
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