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VA HB635: Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Act; established, prohibited practices, penalties.

In Committee Virginia · 2026 session

Last verified Oct 18, 2026 · official bill text

HB635 · where it stands

1 of 5 steps complete
  1. Introduced In committee
  2. Passed first chamber
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Enacted
  5. Effective
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's HB 635 (2026 Regular Session) would create the Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Act. As introduced, an operator could not offer a companion chatbot in Virginia unless it is incapable of certain specified actions, and would have to show non-human disclosures and have a suicide and self-harm protocol. Continued to 2027 on February 9, 2026.

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

What it means for business

Not law. If enacted, companion chatbot operators serving Virginia users would face design limits, disclosure and self-harm protocol duties, enforced under consumer protection law.

Key provisions

  1. As introduced, an operator could not make a companion chatbot available to a user in Virginia unless it is incapable of certain actions specified in the bill
  2. Operators would have to show users of all ages a static, persistent disclaimer that the companion chatbot is not human, and a pop-up notice at specified intervals
  3. It would be unlawful to operate a companion chatbot without a protocol for reasonable efforts to detect and address expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm
  4. As introduced, includes certain data privacy and transparency requirements
  5. A violation would be a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (a substitute offered Feb. 4, 2026 amends Code 59.1-200 and adds 59.1-614 to 59.1-620)
  6. Status: continued to 2027 in House Communications, Technology and Innovation on February 9, 2026

Latest legislative action

Feb 9, 2026. Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)

Sponsors (showing 5 of 29)

NameRole
Primary
Primary
Primary
R Primary
D Primary

Related and companion bills

Topics and industries

Related topics

User-Facing AIAI Privacy

Affected industries

TechnologyConsumer Protection

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 →
HB758 Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act; established, prohibited practic HB2154 Hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities; patient access to in HB1186 Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction. SB394 Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction. SJR14 Artificial intelligence; Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study adv HB638 Data brokers; regulation, civil penalties.

Same topic in other states

Maine LD2082 An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Menta Utah HB452 Artificial Intelligence Amendments California AB 1979 Health care services: artificial intelligence. Colorado HB 1195 Psychotherapy Artificial Intelligence Restrictions Texas HB149 Relating to regulation of the use of artificial intelligence systems in this sta Nebraska LB525 Adopt the Agricultural Data Privacy Act and the Conversational Artificial Intell