Punitive damages; hit and run drivers.
Summary
Punitive damages; hit and run drivers. Provides that in any action for personal injury or death arising from conduct that constitutes a felony hit and run, punitive damages may be awarded to the plaintiff.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 23, 2026
Signed Apr 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
1 edit
MINOR
This bill formally enacts HB 1479 into the Virginia Code, changing its status from a proposed law to an official state statute. The core policy provision remains unchanged: it allows victims of hit-and-run drivers to seek punitive damages if the driver's conduct constitutes a felony under existing law. The changes are entirely technical, involving the formatting and layout adjustments required to convert a draft bill into a final, enacted chapter of the Virginia Acts of Assembly.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill's legal effect remains identical to the draft version.
TECHNICAL
The text was reformatted to match the official layout of enacted Virginia laws, including adding chapter numbers, approval dates, and session headers.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 10, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Amendments
3
Apr 8, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 473 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1479ER)
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate amendment agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with amendment (37-Y 3-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment agreed to (26-Y 14-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (13-Y 1-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26105555D
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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