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VA HB2031: Facial recognition technology; local law-enforcement agencies, etc., authorization of use.

Effective Jul 1, 2021 Virginia · 2021 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

HB2031 · where it stands

All steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Since Jul 1, 2021
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

Virginia HB 2031 (2021) prohibited local law-enforcement agencies and campus police departments from purchasing or deploying facial recognition technology unless a statute expressly authorizes it, and required any authorizing statute to keep the data under the agency's exclusive control, confidential and reachable only by warrant. Agencies already using it had to stop on July 1, 2021. Facial recognition technology is defined as an electronic system for enrolling, capturing, extracting, comparing and matching geometric facial data; airports with commercial service are exempt. SB 741 (2022) replaced the ban with an authorization framework.

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

What it means for business

Facial recognition vendors lost local and campus police customers in Virginia until the 2022 authorization law.

Key provisions

  1. New Code 15.2-1723.2 and 23.1-815.1: local and campus police may not purchase or deploy facial recognition technology without express statutory authorization
  2. Any authorizing statute must keep data under exclusive agency control, confidential, and accessible only by warrant
  3. Facial recognition technology: system for enrolling, capturing, extracting, comparing and matching geometric facial data
  4. Agencies already using it had to stop July 1, 2021
  5. Commercial service airports exempt

Latest legislative action

Apr 7, 2021. Enacted, Chapter 537 (effective 7/1/21)

Sponsors (showing 5 of 15)

NameRoleDistrict
D Sponsor HD-080
D Sponsor HD-031
D Sponsor HD-051
D Sponsor HD-086
D Sponsor HD-071

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 4)

S Senate: Continued to 2021 Sp. Sess. 1 in General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N) Feb 5, 2021

14 yea0 nayPassed

H House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (98-Y 0-N) Jan 21, 2021

98 yea0 nay2 otherPassed

H House: VOTE: Block Vote Passage #2 (100-Y 0-N) Jan 21, 2021

100 yea0 nayPassed

Amendments (2)

  • House committee amendments reported Not adopted 2021-01-18
  • Amendment(s) for HB2031 for Committee: Communications, Technology and Innovation Not adopted 2021-01-18

Topics and industries

Related topics

Facial RecognitionAI in Law Enforcement

Affected industries

GovernmentTechnology

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in Virginia

All Virginia bills →
HB1496 Law-enforcement agencies; surveillance technology reporting. SB741 Facial recognition technology; authorized uses. HB2692 Custodial interrogations; false statements to a child prohibited, inauthentic re HB1642 Artificial intelligence-based tool; definition, use of tool. HB1294 Use of artificial intelligence-based tools; covered artificial intelligence, dis HB1257 Law-enforcement agencies; use of certain technologies & interrogation practices;

Same topic in other states

Montana SB397 Generally revise laws related to privacy and facial recognition technology Utah SB231 Public Surveillance Prohibition Amendments Vermont S0124 An act relating to governmental structures protecting the public health, safety, Maine LD1585 An Act To Increase Privacy and Security by Regulating the Use of Facial Surveill Minnesota SF3072 An act relating to public safety; ... regulating the use of unmanned aerial vehi Washington SB6280 Concerning the use of facial recognition services.