VA HB1186: Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction.

In one paragraph

Virginia's HB 1186 adds Code § 22.1-20.2:1. The Department of Education, consulting school divisions and stakeholders, must compile how public schools use AI for instruction and post guidance for its safe, ethical and equitable use. The guidance covers student data privacy (FERPA, COPPA), teacher training, transparency, data agreements that bar using student or division data to train outside AI models, and bias, and must ensure approved AI uses give teachers access to transcripts of students' AI interactions. School boards must adopt policies following it. If funded, the Department runs an AI pilot program; that authority expires July 1, 2030. Identical to SB 394; effective July 1, 2026.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

No direct duties for companies. Edtech vendors selling AI tools to Virginia public schools will face district policies built on state guidance, including data agreements that bar training outside AI models on student data and teacher access to student AI transcripts.

Key provisions

1. 1New Code § 22.1-20.2:1; AI means a machine learning-based system that infers from inputs how to generate outputs such as content, decisions, predictions and recommendations (research and prototyping before release excluded)
2. 2The Department of Education compiles current uses of AI for student instruction and posts guidance for safe, ethical and equitable AI use in K-12 public school instruction
3. 3The guidance addresses student data privacy (FERPA, COPPA), teacher resources and training, transparency, bias, accessibility and alignment with the Standards of Learning, and protocols that include prohibitions on relying solely on AI for certain high-stakes decisions defined by the Department
4. 4The guidance must address data privacy agreements with school divisions that prohibit using any division-level or student data to train or improve external AI models
5. 5Approved uses must give teachers access to transcripts of students' AI interactions and let teachers and administrators monitor use through dashboards, automated alerts and audit logs; the guidance must include suggested guardrails that prioritize division-managed AI platforms
6. 6Each school board must establish, implement and enforce policies consistent with the guidance
7. 7With appropriated funds, the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program funds and evaluates AI uses in schools, with yearly reports by December 1; it expires July 1, 2030
8. 8Approved by the Governor April 13, 2026 (Chapter 937; identical to SB 394, Chapter 943); effective July 1, 2026

Latest legislative action

Apr 13, 2026. Approved by Governor-Chapter 937 (effective 7/1/2026)

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 11)

Related and companion bills

• Virginia SB394Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction.