Bill
Bill > HB459
summary
Introduced
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
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.
AI Summary
This bill expands protections for victims of hate crimes by prohibiting law-enforcement agencies from publicly disclosing information that could identify them, with specific exceptions for the crime's location, legal requirements, law enforcement needs, or court-ordered disclosure for good cause, unless the victim provides written consent. Additionally, at the victim's request, the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia will be prohibited from including the victim's name in appellate decisions for hate crime cases, similar to existing protections for victims of sexual assault or abuse, with this new provision for hate crimes taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (on 02/20/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB459 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB459) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092540.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB459/text/HB459 |
Loading...