# Virginia HB697: Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report.

Virginia HB697, Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB697-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB697
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-09
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (137 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-19 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice | pass | 11 | 2 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | VOTE: Block Vote Passage | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2024-02-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2024-01-31 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (19)

- 2024-11-19: Left in Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2024-02-19: Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (11-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2024-02-09: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2024-02-09: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2024-02-08: VOTE: Block Vote Passage (98-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-08: Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-02-08: Impact statement from DPB (HB697H1) (House)
- 2024-02-07: Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB697H1 (House)
- 2024-02-07: Committee substitute agreed to 24106145D-H1 (House)
- 2024-02-07: Read second time (House)
- 2024-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2024-02-02: Committee substitute printed 24106145D-H1 (House)
- 2024-02-02: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-01-31: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2024-01-31: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered (House)
- 2024-01-30: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2024-01-23: Impact statement from DPB (HB697) (House)
- 2024-01-09: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2024-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105106D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-02-08: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB697)
- Substitute, 2024-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB697)

## 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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB697)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB697-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).