United States · Virginia
Virginia AI laws: what's in force, and what's coming
Virginia's legislature passed a Colorado-style high-risk AI act (HB 2094) in 2025, but Governor Youngkin vetoed it; enacted AI law is limited to human final decisions on criminal-justice AI tools, AI guidance for schools, a study of independent AI verification bodies and coverage of fabricated intimate images. In September 2026 Governor Spanberger's Executive Order 22 created a rapid-response AI Task Force and rescinded Executive Order 30, while 2026 chatbot, health-insurer AI and election synthetic-media bills were carried over to 2027.
01 / State law
Virginia's AI laws
| Law | Citation | Status | Effective | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI tools in criminal justice decisions | HB 1642 (2025), Acts 2025, ch. 637 | In force | 1 Jul 2025 | Bars an AI-based tool's recommendation or prediction from being the sole basis for a criminal justice decision; the final decision must be made by a human. |
| AI in K-12 instruction | HB 1186 / SB 394 (2026), Acts 2026, chs. 937 and 943 | In force | 1 Jul 2026 | Requires the Department of Education to publish guidance on safe, ethical use of AI in instruction, requires school boards to adopt matching policies, and sets up an AI innovation pilot program. |
| Study of independent AI verification organizations | HB 797 / SB 384 (2026), Acts 2026, chs. 425 and 426 | In force | 1 Jul 2026 | Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to assess a framework for independent organizations that verify AI models' adherence to safety best practices; report due November 1, 2026. |
| Disseminating fabricated intimate images | Va. Code 18.2-386.2 (amended 2019, chs. 490 and 515) | In force | Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to disseminate or sell nude or sexual images, including images created or altered to depict an actual person, with intent to coerce, harass or intimidate. |
02 / Bills
Bills that failed, stalled or were vetoed
| Bill | Citation | Status | Date | What it would have covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Risk Artificial Intelligence Developer and Deployer Act | HB 2094 (2025) | Vetoed | Would have required developers and deployers of high-risk AI used in consequential decisions to prevent algorithmic discrimination, with Attorney General enforcement; vetoed March 24, 2025, and the House sustained the veto. | |
| Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act | SB 796 (2026) | Pending | Would require chatbot operators to disclose non-human status, run safety processes, notify emergency services of imminent risk and report incidents to the Attorney General; passed the Senate and was carried over to 2027. |
03 / Government use
Rules for the state's own AI use
Executive Order 22 (2026): Data Center Accountability Framework and rapid-response AI Task Force; rescinds EO 30 (2024) and Executive Directive 5 (2023)
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SOURCES
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Office of the Governor of Virginia
Virginia Legislative Information System
Virginia Legislative Information System
Virginia Legislative Information System
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