Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 269
Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system, civil penalty.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Barbara A. Favola (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE
Use of artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers; civil penalty. Permits the use of an artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers to assist in providing therapy or counseling services if such mental health service provider maintains full responsibility for all interactions, outputs, and data use associated with the system. The bill prohibits the use of an artificial intelligence system to provide therapy or counseling services without a mental health service provider. The bill specifies that records kept by mental health service providers must comply with health records privacy requirements; creates an exception for religious counseling, peer support, or self-help materials and educational resources; and establishes a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for violations of the statute.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 30, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 28, 2026 Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Mar 2, 2026 · House
Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269) - Feb 6, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation - Feb 6, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 6, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Jan 30, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Jan 30, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) - Jan 30, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Jan 29, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26106455D-S1 - Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N) - Jan 28, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Jan 20, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269) - Jan 12, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology - Jan 12, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104492D