VirginiaHB5182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Streaming advertisement volume control; definitions, volume of advertisements, civil penalties.

Sponsored By: Marty Martinez (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Streaming advertisement volume control; civil penalty. Requires a video streaming service, social media video service, or third-party advertising manager, as defined in the bill, that serves consumers residing in the Commonwealth to exercise reasonable care to normalize the audio of short-form content, as defined in the bill, so that such audio is not transmitted at a louder volume than the long-form content, also defined in the bill, it accompanies, consistent with the regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to the federal Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act for television broadcast stations, cable operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors. The bill provides that the Office of the Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Rules start July 1, 2027

The law takes effect July 1, 2027. All duties, compliance options, enforcement powers, and penalties begin on that date.

Streaming ads must match show volume

Beginning July 1, 2027, streaming and social video services and their ad managers serving Virginians must keep short ads no louder than the shows they run with. The rule follows federal CALM‑style loudness standards. If a service normalizes audio as required, it is deemed in compliance. Services that keep CALM‑like processes are presumed to have used reasonable care. If a third‑party ad manager alone controls ad loudness and a written agreement requires ads to match the show’s target loudness under industry standards, the service is not liable for those ads.

Enforcement and penalties for loud ads

Beginning July 1, 2027, only the Virginia Attorney General enforces these rules. One identifiable short‑form segment sent in a 30‑day period counts as one violation, no matter how many people saw it. The Attorney General can issue civil investigative demands, ask a court to stop violations, and seek up to $2,500 per violation. The Commonwealth can recover reasonable investigation costs and attorney fees. The law does not allow private lawsuits under this chapter.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marty Martinez

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 539 • No: 11

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 85 • No: 11

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 2/10/2026

Reported from General Laws with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1057)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1057 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/22/2026Governor
  5. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  7. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  8. Governor's recommendation received by House

    4/11/2026Governor
  9. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  10. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  11. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB518)

    3/11/2026House
  13. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB518ER)

    3/11/2026House
  14. Enrolled

    3/11/2026House
  15. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  16. Senate substitute agreed to by House (85-Y 11-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026House
  17. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  18. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

    3/2/2026Senate
  19. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/2/2026Senate
  20. Read third time

    3/2/2026Senate
  21. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/27/2026Senate
  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  23. Rules suspended

    2/27/2026Senate
  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB518)

    2/26/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26108571D-S1

    2/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

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