HB1248 • 2026

Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program; established.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 22.25, consisting of a section numbered 59.1-284.46, relating to Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program established.</p>

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Glass
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effective date is unknown as it has been enacted but no specific start date is given.

Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program

This bill establishes the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program to provide financial support for independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program administered by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis up to $20,000 each to independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs.
The program aims to develop and expand the creative economy in Virginia.

Who It Names or Affects

Independent content creators who produce digital media for entertainment purposes
Creative economy entrepreneurs involved in various cultural or artistic pursuits

Terms To Know

Creative Economy: Industries that originate from individual creativity, skill, and talent, including audio, video, visual content production, literary arts, film, music, software, video games, physical goods like art or crafts.
Independent Content Creator: An individual who creates original digital media for entertainment purposes with the intention of generating profit.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for grants.
It is unclear when the program will start since no effective date has been set.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Appropriations
2026-02-11 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1248)
2026-01-23 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103363D
2026-01-14 Appropriations
Referred to Committee on Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program established.
Establishes the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program, to be administered by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, for the purpose of awarding grants to independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs, as those terms are defined in the bill, for the purpose of developing and expanding the creative economy, as defined in the bill, in the Commonwealth. The bill provides for the award of grants of no more than $20,000 to any recipient.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 22.25, consisting of a section numbered
59.1-284.46
, relating to Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program established.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 22.25, consisting of a section numbered
59.1-284.46
, as follows:

CHAPTER

22.25
.

VIRGINIA CREATIVE ECONOMY GRANT PRO
GRAM
.

§
59.1-284.46
. Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Corporation" means the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.

"Creative economy" means industries that have their origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent and that have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property, including production of audio, video, or visual content; literary or performing arts; production of film, music, software, or video games; production of physical goods, including instruments, art, crafts, furniture, robotics, and taxidermy; and television or radio.

"Creative economy entrepreneur" means a small business or a self-employed individual
w
h
o
earns income in the creative economy through creative, cultural, or artistic-based pursuits to produce ideas, content, goods, and services.

"Independent content creator" means an individual who creates original digital media content in the form of audio, video, or visual content for entertainment purposes and with the intention of generating a profit.

"Program" means the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program.

B. The Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program is hereby established for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis from such funds as may be available to independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs for the purpose of developing and expanding the creative economy in the Commonwealth. Grants shall be awarded by the Corporation, in consultation with the Virginia Commission for the Arts established pursuant to §
23.1-3222
, in an amount not to exceed $20,000 to any independent content creator or creative economy entrepreneur. The Program shall be administered by the Corporation, in consultation with the Virginia Commission for the Arts. In administering the Program, the Corporation, in consultation with the Virginia Commission for the Arts, shall establish and publish guidelines and criteria for grant awards, including guidelines and criteria governing agreements between the Corporation and grant recipients relating to the use of grant funds. All funds appropriated by the General Assembly for use in the Program and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury. Any such funds shall be used solely for purposes of (i) awarding grants on a competitive basis through the Program or (ii) implementing and administering the Program.