# Virginia HB2124: Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause. Virginia HB2124, Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2124-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2124 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause. - Status: to governor - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398) - Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 7 (298 yes, 19 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## 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. ## 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 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-14 | House | Senate Amendment agreed to by House (Y-88 N-7 A-0) | pass | 88 | 7 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-01-31 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 87 | 9 | | | 2025-01-27 | House | Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation | pass | 20 | 2 | | | 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 9 | 1 | | ## Actions (30) - 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0398) (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 398 (Effective - see bill ) (Governor) - 2025-03-03: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-03: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025 (House) - 2025-02-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2124) (House) - 2025-02-19: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2124ER) (House) - 2025-02-19: Enrolled (House) - 2025-02-19: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-14: Senate Amendment agreed to by House (Y-88 N-7 A-0) (House) - 2025-02-12: Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Reading of amendment waived (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Read third time and passed House (87-Y 9-N) (House) - 2025-01-30: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2025-01-29: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-27: Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation (20-Y 2-N) (House) - 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) (House) - 2025-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2124) (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 25101882D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074132.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074131.PDF) - Enrolled, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054356.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054355.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1048705.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046329.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015192.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015191.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 - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074132.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074131.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054356.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1054355.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1048705.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1046329.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015192.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015191.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-HB2124-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).