VirginiaArtificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.
What it does
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.
More detail
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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 21Continued from last sessionLatest
- Mar 2Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- Mar 2House committee offered
- Feb 24Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and InnovationMinor
- Feb 24Read first timeMinor
- Feb 24Placed on Calendar
- Feb 17Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Feb 17Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 17Rules suspended
- Feb 17Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amendedMajor
- Feb 17Senator Durant Amendment agreed toMajor
- Feb 17Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- Feb 17Floor offered Senator Durant Amendment
- Feb 17Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 16Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)
- Feb 16Senator Durant Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 16Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)
- Feb 16Floor offered Senator Durant Substitute
- Feb 16Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 13Rules suspended
- Feb 12Committee substitute printed 26107851D-S1Major
- Feb 11Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A)Minor
- Feb 11Senate committee offered
- Feb 11Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB796)
- Jan 23Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologyMinor
- Jan 23Presented and ordered printed 26105447DIntroduced