All Roll Calls
Yes: 137 • No: 2
VirginiaHB6972025 Regular SessionHouse
Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report.
Sponsored By: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
Failed
Summary
Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to use any synthetic media 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 media 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 media, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.
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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
Senate vote • 2/19/2024
Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice
Yes: 11 • No: 2
House vote • 2/8/2024
VOTE: Block Vote Passage
Yes: 97 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2024
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute
Yes: 21 • No: 0
House vote • 1/31/2024
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
Yes: 8 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Left in Courts of Justice
11/19/2024SenateContinued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (11-Y 2-N)
2/19/2024SenateReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2/9/2024SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2/9/2024SenateVOTE: Block Vote Passage (98-Y 0-N)
2/8/2024HouseRead third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
2/8/2024HouseImpact statement from DPB (HB697H1)
2/8/2024HouseEngrossed by House - committee substitute HB697H1
2/7/2024HouseCommittee substitute agreed to 24106145D-H1
2/7/2024HouseRead second time
2/7/2024HouseRead first time
2/6/2024HouseCommittee substitute printed 24106145D-H1
2/2/2024HouseReported from Courts of Justice with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
2/2/2024HouseSubcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)
1/31/2024HouseHouse subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
1/31/2024HouseAssigned Courts sub: Criminal
1/30/2024HouseImpact statement from DPB (HB697)
1/23/2024HouseReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice
1/9/2024HousePrefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105106D
1/9/2024House
Bill Text
Introduced
2/8/2024
Substitute
2/5/2024
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