# Virginia HB1261: Law-enforcement agencies; use of certain technology & interrogation practices; forensic laboratory. Virginia HB1261, Law-enforcement agencies; use of certain technology & interrogation practices; forensic laboratory., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jackie H. Glass (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-02 (Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1261-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB1261 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Law-enforcement agencies; use of certain technology & interrogation practices; forensic laboratory. - Status: in committee - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-14 - Last action: 2026-02-02, Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) - Sponsor: Jackie H. Glass (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Communications, Technology and Innovation - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (0 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Law-enforcement agencies; use of certain technologies and interrogation practices; forensic laboratory accreditation. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services (the Department) to establish a comprehensive framework for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems, machine learning systems, audiovisual surveillance technologies, and custodial and noncustodial interrogations of adults and juveniles by law-enforcement agencies, which shall include (i) developing policies and procedures and publishing model policies for the use of generative AI, machine learning systems, and audiovisual surveillance technologies and interrogation practices and (ii) establishing compulsory minimum training standards for basic training and recertification of law-enforcement officers in the use of generative AI, machine learning systems, and audiovisual surveillance technologies and in conducting interrogations. The bill provides that the Department shall establish and publish such model policies by January 1, 2027, and that all law-enforcement agencies shall adopt policies consistent with such model policies by July 1, 2027. The bill requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to July 1, 2026, to complete the training required by the bill by January 1, 2030. The bill also provides that no local law-enforcement agency or campus police department shall operate a forensic laboratory, defined in the bill, unless such forensic laboratory is accredited by an accrediting body that requires conformance to forensic-specific requirements and that is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement with a scope of accreditation that covers the testing being performed. The bill also prohibits local law-enforcement agencies and campus police departments from purchasing any equipment or instrument that is intended to be used in forensic laboratory analysis or any breath test device, presumptive chemical test, or presumptive mobile instrument unless such equipment, instrument, device, or test has been approved by the Department of Forensic Science or the Forensic Science Board. Such provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2030. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jackie H. Glass (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-02 | House | Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (4) - 2026-02-02: Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) (House) - 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1261) (House) - 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation (House) - 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103194D (House) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088262.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088259.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088262.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088259.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1261-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).