VirginiaHB8682026 Regular SessionHouse

Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.

Sponsored By: Rae Cousins (Democratic)

In Committee

Summary

Elections; political campaign advertisements; synthetic media; penalty. Prohibits electioneering communications containing synthetic media, as those terms are defined in the bill, from being published or broadcast without containing the following conspicuously displayed statement: "This message contains synthetic media that has been altered from its original source or artificially generated and may present conduct or speech that did not occur." The bill creates a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 for a violation of such prohibition and a Class 1 misdemeanor for a willful violation. The bill permits any registered voter who receives an electioneering communication in violation of this requirement to institute an action for preventative relief to prohibit the publication or dissemination of such electioneering communication, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction.

Privileges and Elections

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rae Cousins

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 6 • No: 2

House vote 2/6/2026

Continued to 2027 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 6 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Continued to 2027 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote)

    2/6/2026House
  2. Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N)

    2/3/2026House
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB868)

    1/28/2026House
  4. Assigned HPE sub: Campaigns and Candidates

    1/25/2026House
  5. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    1/13/2026House
  6. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103803D

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

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