# Virginia HB1796: Corporations; creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations. Virginia HB1796, Corporations; creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1796-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB1796 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Corporations; creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations. - Status: to governor - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-06 - Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 13 (427 yes, 148 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Corporations; decentralized autonomous organizations. Creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations, defined in the bill as a distinct legal entity that operates through blockchain-based governance frameworks, incorporating self-executing smart contracts and decentralized decision-making mechanisms. The bill provides that an entity seeking to become a decentralized autonomous organization must file its articles of organization with the State Corporation Commission in order to seek a certificate of organization and requires such articles of organization to designate an operator of record. The bill permits a limited liability company to elect to become a decentralized autonomous organization with management vested in its members or smart contracts and contains requirements for its articles of organization and operating agreements. The bill also contains provisions governing the relationships and rights of members of a decentralized autonomous organization and for the dissolution of a decentralized autonomous organization. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | House | House rejected Governor's recommendation | fail | 28 | 68 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendments | pass | 20 | 19 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Defeated by Senate | fail | 17 | 22 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Defeated by Senate, Chair Votes No | pass | 19 | 19 | 1 | | 2025-02-20 | House | Senate Amendments agreed to by House | pass | 85 | 10 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-19 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-17 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment | pass | 14 | 0 | | | 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 11 | 0 | 4 | | 2025-01-31 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 87 | 8 | | | 2025-01-27 | House | Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute | pass | 20 | 2 | | | 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Labor and Commerce | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (45) - 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (House) - 2025-04-02: House rejected Governor's recommendation (28-Y 68-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Governor's substitute printed (HB1796H2) (House) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 19-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Defeated by Senate (19-Y 19-N 1-A), Chair Votes No (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Defeated by Senate (17-Y 22-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Senate Amendments agreed to by House (85-Y 10-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Passed by temporarily (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reading of amendment waived (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reading of amendment waived (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (14-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 0-N 4-A) (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Read third time and passed House (87-Y 8-N) (House) - 2025-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1796) (House) - 2025-01-30: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2025-01-30: Communications, Technology and Innovation Substitute agreed to (House) - 2025-01-30: Read second time (House) - 2025-01-29: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-27: Committee substitute printed 25105480D-H1 (House) - 2025-01-27: Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute (20-Y 2-N) (House) - 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Labor and Commerce (9-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1796) (House) - 2025-01-16: Assigned CT & I sub: Technology and Innovation (House) - 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation (House) - 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25102358D (House) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080037.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-03-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074570.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074569.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073159.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066907.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066906.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064472.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060081.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054488.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046320.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025719.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025718.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013022.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013021.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080037.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074570.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074569.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073159.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066907.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066906.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1064472.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1060081.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054488.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046320.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025719.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025718.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013022.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013021.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [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-HB1796-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).