Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 796: Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 796 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 23, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty. Primary sponsor: Tara Durant (Republican). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 2, 2026): Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote).
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.
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. 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.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tara Durant | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 27 |
| Adam P. Ebbin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Chris Head | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 3 |
| Schuyler VanValkenburg | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 16 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- House committee offered
- Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
- Read first time
- Placed on Calendar
- Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Rules suspended
- Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended
- Senator Durant Amendment agreed to
- Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- Floor offered Senator Durant Amendment
Showing 12 most recent of 28 actions. Full history