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HB 1846

Application for change of name; person required to register on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; victim notification.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jed Arnold and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia law now requires sex offenders to notify victims before changing their legal names and mandates court notification of victims when name changes are approved.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0206)
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Bill Summary · HB 1846

Legislative bill overview

HB 1846 requires individuals registered on Virginia's Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry to notify victims before legally changing their name and mandates victim notification of any approved name changes. The bill became effective July 1, 2025, and represents a procedural safeguard in the name-change process for registered offenders.

Why is this important

Name changes can obscure an offender's identity and complicate law enforcement tracking and public safety measures. This bill aims to protect victims by ensuring they have knowledge of identity changes that could affect their ability to maintain protective orders, monitor offenders, or take other safety precautions. It also provides transparency in the judicial process by requiring documented victim notification.

Potential points of contention

  • Victim identification challenges: Determining which victims must be notified and locating them after extended periods may prove administratively burdensome and costly
  • Due process concerns: Requiring victim notification before judicial approval could be viewed as giving non-parties procedural veto power or delaying legitimate name-change requests
  • Privacy and safety tradeoffs: Victims may face privacy violations or renewed contact with offenders during the notification process, and notification requirements could inadvertently reveal victim locations to offenders

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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