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HB1479 • 2026

Punitive damages; hit and run drivers.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 8.01-44.5:1, relating to punitive damages; hit and run drivers.

Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Davis
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how much punitive damages may be awarded or what specific behaviors will qualify as 'very bad'.

Punitive Damages for Hit-and-Run Drivers

This law allows people who are hurt or whose loved ones die because of a hit-and-run driver that commits a felony to get extra money from the court.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule in Virginia's laws about punitive damages for actions arising from conduct that constitutes a felony violation related to hit and run.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are hurt or whose loved ones die in hit-and-run accidents where the driver commits a felony.
  • Drivers who leave the scene of an accident and commit a felony.

Terms To Know

Punitive Damages
Extra money given by a court to punish someone for very bad behavior, not just to pay for losses.
Felony Hit-and-Run
When a driver leaves the scene of an accident and their actions are considered a serious crime (felony).

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how much extra money can be given as punitive damages.
  • It is unclear what specific behaviors will be considered very bad enough to get punitive damages.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1479AS1

2026-03-10 • Committee

Courts of Justice Amendment

Plain English: The amendment to HB1479 removes the phrase 'or property damage' from a section about punitive damages for hit-and-run drivers.

  • Removes the option for punitive damages based on property damage in cases involving hit-and-run drivers.
  • The exact impact of this change is unclear without knowing how often property damage claims lead to punitive damages in hit-and-run cases.
HB1479EDOC

2026-03-11 • Senate

Senate Amendment

Plain English: The amendment to HB1479 removes the phrase 'or property damage' from a section about punitive damages for hit-and-run drivers.

  • Removes the option for punitive damages related to property damage in cases involving hit-and-run drivers.
  • The exact impact on existing laws regarding punitive damages and hit-and-run incidents is unclear without further context.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 473 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0473)

  3. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  4. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  8. 2026-03-31 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1479)

  9. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  10. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1479ER)

  12. 2026-03-12 House

    Senate amendment agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Read third time

  14. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  16. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  17. 2026-03-11 Courts of Justice

    Committee amendment agreed to (26-Y 14-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Passed Senate with amendment (37-Y 3-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  21. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-03-09 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (13-Y 1-N 1-A)

  24. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  25. 2026-02-18 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  26. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  28. 2026-02-13 House

    Read first time

  29. 2026-02-11 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)

  30. 2026-02-09 Civil

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

  31. 2026-02-05 Civil

    Assigned HCJ sub: Civil

  32. 2026-02-03 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1479)

  33. 2026-01-23 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26105555D

  34. 2026-01-23 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
8.01-44.5:1
, relating to punitive damages; hit and run drivers.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
8.01-44.5:1
as follows:
§
8.01-44.5:1
. Punitive damages; hit and run drivers.
In any action for personal injury or death arising from conduct that constitutes a felony violation of §
46.2-894
, punitive damages may be awarded to the plaintiff.