Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 796
Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Tara A. Durant (Republican)
Cosponsors (3)
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)
- Christopher T. Head (Republican)
- Adam P. Ebbin
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE
Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act established; enforcement; civil penalties; individual action. Creates the Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act to require a covered entity, defined in the bill, to (i) implement certain reasonable systems and processes, (ii) make reasonable efforts to notify appropriate emergency services or law enforcement if it obtains knowledge that a user faces an imminent risk of death or serious physical injury, and (iii) submit a report to the Attorney General after obtaining knowledge of certain covered incidents, defined in the bill, connected to one or more of its chatbots. The bill also requires an operator, defined in the bill, to disclose the non-human nature of the chatbot to users at certain intervals. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to initiate an action to seek an injunction and civil penalties for violations and also provides an individual civil action for any person harmed by a violation or the parent or legal guardian of a minor harmed by a violation.
Text versions
- Introduced
- General Laws and Technology Substitute
- Senator Durant Substitute
- Senator Durant Amendment
- Engrossed
- Communications, Technology and Innovation Substitute
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 8:07 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Reconsider R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 17, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 11, 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) - Mar 2, 2026 · House
House committee offered - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Senator Durant Amendment agreed to - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Floor offered Senator Durant Amendment - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Senator Durant Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Floor offered Senator Durant Substitute - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26107851D-S1 - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB796) - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology - Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26105447D