VirginiaHB21242025 Regular SessionHouse

Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause.

Sponsored By: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)

To Governor

Summary

Synthetic digital content; penalty; work group. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic digital content, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to use any synthetic digital content for the purpose of committing any criminal offense involving fraud, constituting a separate and distinct offense with punishment separate and apart from any punishment received for the commission of the primary criminal offense. The bill also authorizes the individual depicted in the synthetic digital content to bring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such other relief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directs the Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the use of synthetic digital content, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts. The substantive provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly and the provisions directing the Attorney General to convene a work group become effective in due course. This bill is identical to SB 1053.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michelle Lopes Maldonado

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 298 • No: 19

House vote • 2/14/2025

Senate Amendment agreed to by House (Y-88 N-7 A-0)

Yes: 88 • No: 7

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/11/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/10/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote • 1/31/2025

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 87 • No: 9

House vote • 1/27/2025

Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation

Yes: 20 • No: 2

House vote • 1/22/2025

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 9 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 398 (Effective - see bill )

    3/24/2025Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

    3/3/2025Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025

    3/3/2025House
  5. Signed by President

    2/22/2025Senate
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2124)

    2/19/2025House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2124ER)

    2/19/2025House
  8. Enrolled

    2/19/2025House
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/19/2025House
  10. Senate Amendment agreed to by House (Y-88 N-7 A-0)

    2/14/2025House
  11. Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (39-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2025Senate
  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    2/12/2025Senate
  13. Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to

    2/12/2025Senate
  14. Reading of amendment waived

    2/12/2025Senate
  15. Read third time

    2/12/2025Senate
  16. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)

    2/11/2025Senate
  17. Passed by for the day

    2/11/2025Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    2/11/2025Senate
  19. Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (15-Y 0-N)

    2/10/2025Senate
  20. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/3/2025Senate
  21. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/3/2025Senate
  22. Read third time and passed House (87-Y 9-N)

    1/31/2025House
  23. Read second time and engrossed

    1/30/2025House
  24. Read first time

    1/29/2025House
  25. Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation (20-Y 2-N)

    1/27/2025House

Bill Text

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