VA SB 269
Status unknownMental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system, civil penalty.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did VA SB 269 pass?
The current status of VA SB 269 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-03-02): Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
What is VA SB 269 about?
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.
Who sponsors VA SB 269?
Barbara A. Favola is the primary sponsor of VA SB 269.
Description
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.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-12
- Latest action
- 2026-03-02 — Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Barbara A. Favolaprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-03-02
Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
2026-02-11
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269)
2026-02-06
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
referral-committee
2026-02-06
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-06
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-03
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-02
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
substitution
2026-02-02
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
substitution
2026-02-02
Read second time
reading-2
2026-01-30
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-01-30
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-01-30
Rules suspended
2026-01-29
Committee substitute printed 26106455D-S1
substitution
2026-01-28
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-01-28
Senate committee offered
2026-01-20
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269)
2026-01-12
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
referral-committee
2026-01-12
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104492D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute
2026-01-28 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Adam P. Ebbin: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- 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
2026-01-30 · pass · 38-0
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: not voting
- 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: not voting
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-02-03 · pass · 39-0
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: not voting
- 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
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:
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