In one paragraph
Virginia's HB 669 (2026 Regular Session) would have barred chatbots from acting as licensed professionals. As introduced, a chatbot proprietor could not let a chatbot give responses or take actions that would be the unlicensed practice of fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, psychology or law. It failed: left in House Appropriations Committee on February 18, 2026.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died and never became law. It would have restricted companies that deploy chatbots from presenting them as licensed professionals.
Key provisions
- As introduced, a proprietor could not permit a chatbot to give substantive responses or advice, or take actions, that would be the unlicensed practice of listed professions if done by a person
- The listed professions include architecture, engineering, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, social work, veterinary medicine and law, plus licensure rules for public school teachers and officers
- Committee substitute (Feb. 9, 2026) proposed Code 54.1-111.1: a deployer could not make publicly available a dedicated AI system with listed features, including falsely representing that it is a licensed professional and giving individualized professional diagnosis, treatment or advice that would be a crime under Code 54.1-111 if given by an unlicensed person
- The substitute's section title covers notice, enforcement and civil penalties
- Status: reported from committee with substitute 20-Y 1-N 1-A on Feb. 9, 2026; left in Appropriations Committee on February 18, 2026
Latest legislative action
Feb 18, 2026. Left in Committee Appropriations
Sponsors (showing 5 of 22)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mark L. Cole | Primary |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado D | Primary |
| Nicholas J. Freitas | Primary |
| Patrick A. Hope D | Primary |
| Terry G. Kilgore R | Primary |
Roll call votes
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table Feb 11, 2026
5 yea0 nay2 otherPassed
Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute Feb 9, 2026
20 yea1 nay1 otherPassed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute Feb 9, 2026
9 yea0 nay1 otherPassed
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
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