# Virginia HB797: Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org.

Virginia HB797, Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB797-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB797
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425)
- Sponsor: C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 12 (327 yes, 39 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Joint Commission on Technology and Science; artificial intelligence; independent verification organizations. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to standards reflecting best practices for the prevention of personal injury and property damage. The bill directs JCOTS to submit a report with its recommendations and any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committees on Appropriations and Communications, Technology and Innovation by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 384.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 84 | 14 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 79 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 18 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 8 | 2 |   |

## Actions (46)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0425) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 425 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB797ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate substitute agreed to by House (84-Y 14-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Committee substitute printed 26108556D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed House (79-Y 19-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-13: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-13: committee substitute rejected (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Committee substitute printed 26107298D-H2 (House)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-06: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay (House)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26105989D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Assigned HST sub: Communications (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB797) (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102711D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218023.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218022.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210897.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210896.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182035.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182034.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178824.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178823.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135855.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134021.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135854.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134020.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133386.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133385.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105496.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105740.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107394.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105495.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105739.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107393.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085940.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085939.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218023.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218022.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210897.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210896.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182035.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182034.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178824.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178823.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135855.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134021.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135854.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134020.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133386.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1133385.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105496.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105740.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107394.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105495.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105739.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107393.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085940.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085939.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [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-HB797-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).