# Virginia HB2121: Digital Content Authenticity and Transparency Act; established, civil penalty.

Virginia HB2121, Digital Content Authenticity and Transparency Act; established, civil penalty., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Communications, Technology and Innovation) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2121-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2121
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Digital Content Authenticity and Transparency Act; established, civil penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Communications, Technology and Innovation
- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Communications, Technology and Innovation
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (10 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Digital Content Authenticity and Transparency Act established; civil penalty. Requires a developer of an artificial intelligence system or service to apply provenance data to synthetic digital content that is generated by such developer's generative artificial intelligence system or service and requires a developer to make a provenance application tool and a provenance reader available to the public. The bill requires a controller of an online service, product, or feature to retain any available provenance data and requires a capture device to include a provenance application tool by default. The bill grants the Attorney General the exclusive authority to enforce such provisions and impose civil penalties pursuant to the bill. Under certain circumstances, the Attorney General may offer a developer an opportunity to cure a violation before imposing such civil penalties. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Communications, Technology and Innovation (House)
- 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2121) (House)
- 2025-01-16: Assigned CT & I sub: Technology and Innovation (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104552D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025731.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025730.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015189.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015188.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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025731.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025730.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015189.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015188.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-HB2121-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).