HB320 • 2026

Live streaming while driving; prohibited, penalty.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-818.3, relating to live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Cole, J.G.
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Live streaming while driving; prohibited, penalty.

Live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty.

What This Bill Does

Live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty.
Prohibits any person, while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth, from (i) initiating, participating in, or interacting with any live stream, as that term is defined in the bill, and (ii) manipulating any electronic device to enable or maintain the functions of a live stream on or with such electronic device.
The bill establishes penalties for violations, in addition to any other penalties available under current law, including periods of license suspension and a fine of not more than $500 if a person who commits such a violation is involved in an accident at the time of such violation.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB320G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB320) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

(HB320) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
Line 17, enrolled, after or insert manipulate an electronic device in order to

HB320ASC1

2026-02-27 • Committee

Transportation Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 2/27/2026 HB 320 TRANSPORTATION 1.

OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 2/27/2026 HB 320 TRANSPORTATION 1.
Line 17, engrossed, after in, strike view,

HB320AS1

2026-02-27 • Committee

Transportation Amendment

Plain English: 2/27/2026 (HB320) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION 1.

2/27/2026 (HB320) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION 1.
Line 17, engrossed, after in, strike view,

HB320AH1

2026-03-03 • Member

Senator Bagby Amendment

Plain English: 3/03/2026 HB 320 SEN.

3/03/2026 HB 320 SEN.
BAGBY 1.
Line 15, engrossed, after 59.1-575 .
insert "Social media platform" does not include any application, service, or website with the primary function of providing audio or video conferencing or calling services.

HB320EDOC

2026-03-03 • Senate

Senate Amendments

Plain English: 3/03/2026 (HB320) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE SEN.

3/03/2026 (HB320) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE SEN.
BAGBY 1.
Line 15, engrossed, after 59.1-575 .
insert "Social media platform" does not include any application, service, or website with the primary function of providing audio or video conferencing or calling services.

Bill History

2026-04-22 Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
2026-04-22 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-04-22 Senate
Signed by President
2026-04-22 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1047 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled
2026-04-22 House
Reenrolled bill text (HB320ER2)
2026-04-22 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1047)
2026-04-22 House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (90-Y 10-N 0-A)
2026-04-22 Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (25-Y 14-N 0-A)
2026-04-11 Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
2026-03-16 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB320)
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-12 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-12 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-12 House
Enrolled
2026-03-12 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB320ER)
2026-03-05 House
Senate amendments agreed to by House (91-Y 6-N 1-A)
2026-03-03 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-03 Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended
2026-03-03 Transportation
Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Senate
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Senate
Senator Bagby Amendment agreed to
2026-03-03 Senate
Passed Senate with S-Transportation and Senator Bagby amendments (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-03-03 Senate
Floor offered
2026-03-03 Senate
Floor offered
2026-03-03 Senate
Floor offered
2026-03-02 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-02 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-02 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-26 Transportation
Reported from Transportation with amendment (10-Y 2-N 2-A)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time
2026-02-16 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-16 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-13 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-11 Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
2026-02-10 Transportation
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB320)
2026-02-07 Criminal
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
2026-02-03 Transportation
Reported from Transportation with substitute and referred to Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)
2026-02-03 Transportation
Committee substitute printed 26106573D-H1
2026-01-28 Highway Safety and Policy
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
2026-01-28 Highway Safety and Policy
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-19 Highway Safety and Policy
Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy
2026-01-10 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104762D
2026-01-10 Transportation
Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty.
Prohibits any person, while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth, from (i) initiating, participating in, or interacting with any live stream, as that term is defined in the bill, and (ii) manipulating any electronic device to enable or maintain the functions of a live stream on or with such electronic device. The bill establishes penalties for violations, in addition to any other penalties available under current law, including periods of license suspension and a fine of not more than $500 if a person who commits such a violation is involved in an accident at the time of such violation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered
46.2-818.3
, relating to live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered
46.2-818.3
as follows:
§
46.2-818.3
. Live streaming while driving prohibited; penalty.
A. For purposes of this section:
"Content" means audiovisual content shared on a social media platform.
"Live stream" means real-time audio or video transmission to any social media platform.
"Social media platform" means the same as that term is defined in §
59.1-575
. "Social media platform" does not include any application, service, or website with the primary function of providing audio or video conferencing or calling services.
B. It is unlawful for any person, while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth, to initiate, participate in, or
manipulate an electronic device in order to
interact with any live stream.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of §
46.2-818.2
to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person, while driving a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth, to manipulate any electronic device to enable or maintain the functions of a live stream on or with such electronic device.
D. Upon the conviction of a violation of this section that is a first offense, the court shall impose a fine of not more than $500, in addition to any other penalties provided by law. Upon the conviction of a violation of this section that is a second offense, the court shall suspend the driver's license of the person convicted for a period of 30 days, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, and shall order the surrender of his license to the court to be disposed of in accordance with §
46.2-398
. Upon the conviction of a violation of this section that is a third or subsequent offense, the court shall suspend the driver's license of the person convicted for a period of 90 days, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, and shall order the surrender of his license to the court to be disposed of in accordance with §
46.2-398
. However, in those cases where the court determines it is appropriate, the court may provide that any individual whose license is suspended pursuant to this section be issued a restricted license to operate a motor vehicle for any of the purposes set forth in subsection E of §
18.2-271.1
during the term of suspension. If the convicted driver does not have a driver's license or is a nonresident, the court may order the driver not to drive any motor vehicle in the Commonwealth for a period of time corresponding to the respective period of license suspension for such offense.
If a person violates the provisions of this section and is involved in an accident while committing such violation, the court may impose, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a fine of not more than $500.
E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the use of live streaming to report an emergency or the commission of a crime.
F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to (i) authorize the warrantless search of electronic devices, (ii) prohibit the use of any dashboard camera that is not used for purposes of live streaming, or (iii) prohibit the use of any manufacturer or fleet safety systems that record video but do not transmit real-time content.
G. No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this section. No evidence discovered or obtained as the result of a stop in violation of this subsection, including evidence discovered or obtained with the operator's consent, shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding.