VA SB796 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session
Status
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Engrossed on February 16 2026 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2026-03-02 - Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
Text: Latest bill text (Comm Sub) [HTML]
Status: Engrossed on February 16 2026 - 50% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2026-03-02 - Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
Text: Latest bill text (Comm Sub) [HTML]
Summary
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.
Title
Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-02-17 - Senate - Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) (Y: 39 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - Senate - Reconsideration of (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-13 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 36 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 4) [PASS]
2026-02-11 - Senate - Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Y: 14 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-17 - Senate - Reconsideration of (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-13 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 36 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 4) [PASS]
2026-02-11 - Senate - Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Y: 14 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-02 | House | Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-02 | House | House committee offered |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Placed on Calendar |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Senator Durant Amendment agreed to |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Floor offered Senator Durant Amendment |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Senator Durant Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Floor offered Senator Durant Substitute |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Read second time |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Committee substitute printed 26107851D-S1 |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Senate committee offered |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB796) |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
| 2026-01-23 | Senate | Presented and ordered printed 26105447D |
