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VA HB459

Bill

Official Source

Status

Enrolled

2/25/2026

Primary Sponsor

Laura Jane Cohen

Click for details

Origin

House of Delegates

2026 Regular Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Expands crime victim privacy protections to include victims of hate crimes (as defined in § 52-8.5), adding them to existing protections for victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and family abuse
  • Prohibits law enforcement from publicly disclosing information that directly or indirectly identifies hate crime victims without their written consent
  • Allows hate crime victims to request that appellate court decisions omit their first and last names, effective July 1, 2026
  • Maintains existing exceptions permitting disclosure at the crime site, when required by law, for law-enforcement purposes, or when permitted by court for good cause

Legislative Description

Hate crimes; crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information.

Last Action

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

3/10/2026

Committee Referrals

Courts of Justice2/11/2026
Courts of Justice: Criminal1/29/2026
Courts of Justice1/12/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available