VA SB775: Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.

In one paragraph

Vetoed. Virginia's SB 775 (2025) would have barred sponsoring an electioneering communication (a paid message naming a candidate, aimed at voters within 60 days of the election) containing synthetic media, meaning deceptively altered or AI-generated images or audio of an identifiable person, unless it conspicuously stated that it contains synthetic media that may present conduct or speech that did not occur. Violations would have carried civil penalties up to $25,000 and, if willful, a Class 1 misdemeanor; voters could have sued to stop the ads. Governor Youngkin vetoed it (the Senate received the veto March 25, 2025), and the Senate sustained the veto April 2, 2025.

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

What it means for business

None: the bill was vetoed and never became law. It would have required a synthetic-media disclaimer on paid messages naming a candidate within 60 days of the election, with up to $25,000 civil penalties, and ID checks by media outlets.

Key provisions

1. 1Would have added Code § 24.2-961: no committee or person may sponsor an electioneering communication containing synthetic media unless it carries the statement: "This message contains synthetic media that has been altered from its original source or artificially generated and may present conduct or speech that did not occur."
2. 2Synthetic media: images or audio of real events intentionally altered so a reasonable person would mistake them for a real recording and understand the content differently, or artificially generated images or audio of an identifiable person's appearance, conduct or speech that a reasonable person would mistake for a real recording
3. 3The statement must be conspicuous (State Board standards; at least 7-point type in electronic print media; at the start of audio and video, and at the end too if longer than five minutes)
4. 4Civil penalty up to $25,000 (capped per communication across multiple broadcasts); a willful violation would have been a Class 1 misdemeanor
5. 5Registered voters who received a violating communication could seek an injunction, with priority on the docket and costs and attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff
6. 6Electioneering communication: a paid print, TV, radio or online message referring to a clearly identified candidate, distributed within 60 days of that candidate's election and targeted to the relevant electorate
7. 7Media outlets, internet service providers and online platforms would not have been liable for carrying ads without the disclosure; media outlets would have had to require, and keep for one year, proof of the submitter's identity; satire and parody exempt
8. 8Passed both chambers (conference report February 22, 2025); vetoed by the Governor (veto received by the Senate March 25, 2025); the Senate sustained the veto April 2, 2025. HB 2479 was identical and was also vetoed

Latest legislative action

Apr 2, 2025. Senate sustained Governor's veto

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 11)

Amendments (1)

• Privileges and Elections Amendment Not adopted

Related and companion bills

• Virginia HB2479Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
• Virginia HB982Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
• Virginia HB868Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
• Virginia SB141Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.