# Virginia HB1479: Punitive damages; hit and run drivers.

Virginia HB1479, Punitive damages; hit and run drivers., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Will Davis (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0473)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1479-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1479
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Punitive damages; hit and run drivers.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0473)
- Sponsor: Will Davis (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (341 yes, 19 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## 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 overview: provisions PRIA read

- Extra damages allowed for felony hit-and-runs: mixed, medium. The law allows punitive damages in civil cases for injury or death from a felony hit-and-run under Virginia law. A court may award these on top of regular damages. This can increase the money a victim or family gets. Drivers who commit a felony hit-and-run face higher civil liability.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Will Davis (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Committee amendment agreed to | pass | 26 | 14 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment | pass | 37 | 3 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment | pass | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0473) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 473 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1479) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1479ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate amendment agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with amendment (37-Y 3-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Committee amendment agreed to (26-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (13-Y 1-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1479) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-01-23: Presented and ordered printed 26105555D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218131.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218130.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213585.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213584.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206291.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202009.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095398.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095397.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218131.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218130.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213585.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213584.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1206291.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1202009.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095398.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095397.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1479-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).