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Bill

SB 796

Artificial Intelligence Companion Chatbots and Minors Act; established, enforcement, civil penalty.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tara Durant

Virginia proposes regulating AI chatbots marketed to minors through enforcement mechanisms and civil penalties to protect children from unsafe applications.

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
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Bill Summary · SB 796

Legislative bill overview

SB 796 establishes regulations governing artificial intelligence companion chatbots that interact with minors in Virginia. The bill creates enforcement mechanisms and civil penalties for violations of requirements designed to protect children using AI chatbot services. The specific protections and technical standards are defined within the legislation's framework.

Why is this important

AI chatbots are increasingly accessible to children, yet lack comprehensive state-level regulation regarding child safety, data protection, and appropriate content. This bill addresses a growing gap between technology adoption and consumer protection law, particularly concerning vulnerable populations. The enforcement provisions signal Virginia's intent to hold companies accountable for harms related to minor-focused AI services.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and scope ambiguity: The bill's definition of "companion chatbots" may be unclear, potentially capturing educational tools, tutoring apps, or gaming assistants unintentionally or exempting problematic services
  • Compliance burden vs. innovation: Tech companies argue strict AI regulations increase development costs and slow beneficial innovation, while consumer advocates counter that insufficient guardrails enable exploitation
  • Enforcement capacity: Questions exist about whether Virginia's regulatory agencies have adequate technical expertise and resources to investigate and enforce penalties against sophisticated AI systems

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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