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HB797 • 2026

Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org.

An Act to direct the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models or applications; report.

Technology
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Hayes
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify any immediate actions or rules to be implemented after the study, only that a report will be submitted by November 1, 2026.

Framework for AI Verification Organizations

This act directs a group to study if it's possible and useful to create rules for organizations that check artificial intelligence models or apps to make sure they're safe.

What This Bill Does

  • It tells the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to look into making rules for groups that test AI models or apps.
  • The study will consider how risky AI can be, what tools are used to measure risk, and if there are already good standards in place.
  • JCOTS must also think about how other states handle similar issues and the cost of setting up a system here.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) will do the study.
  • People or organizations that want to test AI models or apps might be affected by any rules made from this study.

Terms To Know

Joint Commission on Technology and Science
A group in Virginia that looks at technology issues.
Independent Verification Organization
An organization that checks if AI models or apps meet safety standards.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say exactly what the rules will be, only that JCOTS should study them.
  • It's unclear how much it would cost to set up and run these verification organizations.
  • The report is due by November 1, 2026, but no action has been taken yet based on this report.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 425 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)

  3. 2026-04-06 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)

  4. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  10. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB797ER)

  12. 2026-03-10 House

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (84-Y 14-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  14. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  15. 2026-03-09 General Laws and Technology

    Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  18. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  19. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  21. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  22. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-03-04 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  25. 2026-02-27 General Laws and Technology

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)

  26. 2026-02-26 General Laws and Technology

    Committee substitute printed 26108556D-S1

  27. 2026-02-25 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  28. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  29. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  30. 2026-02-17 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  31. 2026-02-16 House

    Read third time and passed House (79-Y 19-N 0-A)

  32. 2026-02-13 House

    Read second time

  33. 2026-02-13 House

    committee substitute rejected

  34. 2026-02-13 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  35. 2026-02-13 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  36. 2026-02-12 House

    Passed by for the day

  37. 2026-02-11 House

    Read first time

  38. 2026-02-09 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  39. 2026-02-09 Appropriations

    Committee substitute printed 26107298D-H2

  40. 2026-02-06 Communications

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)

  41. 2026-02-06 General Government and Capital Outlay

    House subcommittee offered

  42. 2026-02-06 General Government and Capital Outlay

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)

  43. 2026-02-03 General Government and Capital Outlay

    Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

  44. 2026-02-02 Communications

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N)

  45. 2026-02-02 Communications

    House subcommittee offered

  46. 2026-02-02 Communications, Technology and Innovation

    Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 4-N)

  47. 2026-02-02 Communications, Technology and Innovation

    Committee substitute printed 26105989D-H1

  48. 2026-01-29 Communications

    Assigned HST sub: Communications

  49. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797)

  50. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102711D

  51. 2026-01-13 Communications, Technology and Innovation

    Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation

Official Summary Text

Joint Commission on Technology and Science; artificial intelligence; independent verification organizations.
Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to standards reflecting best practices for the prevention of personal injury and property damage. The bill directs JCOTS to submit a report with its recommendations and any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committees on Appropriations and Communications, Technology and Innovation by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 384.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to direct the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models or applications; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) shall evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to standards reflecting best practices for the prevention of personal injury and property damage. In evaluating the feasibility and impact of developing such a framework, JCOTS shall consider (i) the nature and magnitude of risks imposed by artificial intelligence models or applications deployed in the Commonwealth; (ii) the availability of identifiable and measurable metrics to determine levels of risk; (iii) existing standards for technical, operational, and other mitigation requirements for persons or entities that deploy artificial intelligence models or applications in the Commonwealth or develop artificial intelligence models or applications that are deployed in the Commonwealth; (iv) current methodologies and sources used to evaluate the efficacy of such mitigation requirements; (v) practices and strategies employed in other states to assess artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to industry standards; and (vi) the fiscal impact of developing and implementing a framework for assessment of artificial intelligence models and applications through independent verification organizations. If JCOTS recommends the development of such a framework, JCOTS shall further evaluate (a) the feasibility of a licensing scheme for independent verification organizations and (b) the viability of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency or any other state agency to implement and manage such licensing scheme. JCOTS shall submit a report with its recommendations and any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committees on Appropriations and Communications, Technology and Innovation no later than November 1, 2026.