VA HB 797

enacted

Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 797 pass?

Yes. VA HB 797 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-08): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)

What is VA HB 797 about?

Joint Commission on Technology and Science; artificial intelligence; independent verification organizations. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to standards reflecting best practices for the prevention of personal injury and property damage. The bill directs JCOTS to submit a report with its recommendations and any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committees on Appropriations and Communications, Technology and Innovation by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 384.

Who sponsors VA HB 797?

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. is the primary sponsor of VA HB 797, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

Introduced: 2026-01-13
Latest action: 2026-04-08 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)
Bill type: bill
Last updated: —

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

2026-04-08
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)
2026-04-08
Approved by Governor-Chapter 425 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-04-06
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)
2026-03-31
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-30
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-30
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB797ER)
passage
2026-03-30
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-10
Senate substitute agreed to by House (84-Y 14-N 0-A)
substitution
2026-03-09
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-09
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
substitution
2026-03-09
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
substitution
2026-03-09
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-06
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-05
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-03-05
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05
Rules suspended
2026-03-04
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-27
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)
2026-02-26
Committee substitute printed 26108556D-S1
substitution
2026-02-25
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-24
Senate committee offered
2026-02-17
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
referral-committee
2026-02-17
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-16
Read third time and passed House (79-Y 19-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-13
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
substitution
2026-02-13
committee substitute agreed to
substitution
2026-02-13
committee substitute rejected
2026-02-13
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-12
Passed by for the day
2026-02-11
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-09
Committee substitute printed 26107298D-H2
substitution
2026-02-09
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-06
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-06
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)
substitution
2026-02-06
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)
2026-02-03
Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
referral-committee
2026-02-02
Committee substitute printed 26105989D-H1
substitution
2026-02-02
Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 4-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-02
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N)
substitution
2026-02-02
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-29
Assigned HST sub: Communications
referral-committee
2026-01-26
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
referral-committee
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102711D
filing,introduction

Versions

IntroducedCompare
Communications, Technology and Innovation SubstituteCompare
Communications Subcommittee SubstituteCompare
General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee SubstituteCompare
Appropriations SubstituteCompare
General Laws and Technology SubstituteCompare
EnrolledCompare
ChapteredCompare
(document, no version)Compare

Votes

Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute
2026-02-02 · pass · 18-4
Member-level votes (22)
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Delores Oates: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- Justin Pence: no
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
2026-02-02 · pass · 8-2
Member-level votes (10)
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Justin Pence: no
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
2026-02-06 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
Reported from Appropriations with substitute
2026-02-09 · pass · 22-0
Member-level votes (22)
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
H VOTE:
2026-02-16 · pass · 79-19
Member-level votes (100)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: no
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute
2026-02-25 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: 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
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
Reported from Finance and Appropriations
2026-03-04 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-03-05 · pass · 39-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: 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
- 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: not voting
- 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
2026-03-09 · pass · 40-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: 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
- 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
H VOTE:
2026-03-10 · pass · 84-14
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: not voting
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Kirk McPike: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB797

Attribution

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

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