Bill Commons

VA SB 796

died on adjournment

Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-23
Status date
—
Latest action
2026-03-02 — Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Tara A. Durantprimary
  • Schuyler T. VanValkenburgcosponsor
  • Christopher T. Headcosponsor
  • Adam P. Ebbincosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-23

    Presented and ordered printed 26105447D

    introduction

  2. 2026-01-23

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-02-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB796)

  4. 2026-02-11

    Senate committee offered

  5. 2026-02-11

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)

    committee-passage

  6. 2026-02-12

    Committee substitute printed 26107851D-S1

    substitution

  7. 2026-02-13

    Rules suspended

  8. 2026-02-13

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. 2026-02-13

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  10. 2026-02-16

    Read second time

    reading-2

  11. 2026-02-16

    Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

  12. 2026-02-16

    Floor offered Senator Durant Substitute

  13. 2026-02-16

    Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)

  14. 2026-02-16

    Senator Durant Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  15. 2026-02-16

    Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-02-17

    Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-02-17

    Floor offered Senator Durant Amendment

  18. 2026-02-17

    Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)

  19. 2026-02-17

    Senator Durant Amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  20. 2026-02-17

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended

    substitution

  21. 2026-02-17

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-02-17

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  24. 2026-02-24

    Placed on Calendar

  25. 2026-02-24

    Read first time

    reading-1

  26. 2026-02-24

    Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation

    referral-committee

  27. 2026-03-02

    House committee offered

  28. 2026-03-02

    Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute

    2026-02-11 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: abstain
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-02-13 · pass · 35-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: not voting
    • T. Travis Hackworth: not voting
    • Christopher T. Head: not voting
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: not voting
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: not voting
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Reconsider R

    2026-02-17 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-02-17 · pass · 39-1

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: no
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading)

    2026-02-17 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB796

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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