Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 669: Impersonation of certain licensed professionals by chatbot; definitions, notice, civil liability.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 669 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Impersonation of certain licensed professionals by chatbot; definitions, notice, civil liability. Primary sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado. It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 18, 2026): Left in Committee Appropriations.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Professions and occupations; impersonation of certain licensed professionals by chatbot; notice; civil liability. Provides that a proprietor that owns, operates, or deploys a chatbot, defined in the bill, shall not permit such chatbot to provide any substantive response, information, or advice, or take any action that, if taken by a natural person, would (i) constitute the unlawful practice of architecture, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, geology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, certain mental health professions, psychology, social work, or veterinary medicine; (ii) violate the provisions of law making it unlawful for any person to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, or podiatry or as a physician assistant in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license or to practice law without being authorized or licensed; or (iii) violate the provisions of law making it unlawful for a teacher to be employed without a license or provisional license or relating to division superintendents, members of a school board or other school officers, or principals or teachers in a public school. The bill allows a person injured by a proprietor who engages in any such conduct to sue therefor no more than two years after the cause of action accrues and recover compensatory damages and reasonable attorney fees and costs. The bill also requires a proprietor operating or deploying a chatbot to provide a clear, conspicuous, and explicit notice to users that they are interacting with a chatbot but specifies that the provisions of such notice shall not be a defense to liability.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Bonita Anthony | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 92 |
| Jackie Glass | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 93 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Committee Appropriations
- Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 0-N)
- Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay
- Committee substitute printed 26106823D-H1
- Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 1-N 1-A)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)
- House subcommittee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB669)
- Reconsidered by Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- Assigned HST sub: Communications
- Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
Showing 12 most recent of 13 actions. Full history