VirginiaSB10532025 Regular SessionSenate

Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause.

Sponsored By: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)

To Governor

Summary

Synthetic digital content; penalty; work group. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic digital content, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to use any synthetic digital content 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 digital content 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 digital content, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts. The substantive provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly and the provisions directing the Attorney General to convene a work group become effective in due course. This bill is identical to HB 2124.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adam P. Ebbin

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 290 • No: 9

House vote • 2/13/2025

Passed House

Yes: 89 • No: 8

House vote • 2/10/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2025

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 1/23/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/23/2025

Reconsideration of Engrossment agreed to

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/23/2025

Passed Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/21/2025

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/20/2025

Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0407)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 407 (Effective - see bill)

    3/24/2025Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025

    3/3/2025Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025

    3/3/2025Senate
  5. Signed by President

    2/20/2025Senate
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053)

    2/19/2025Senate
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1053ER)

    2/18/2025Senate
  8. Enrolled

    2/18/2025Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/18/2025House
  10. Passed House (89-Y 8-N)

    2/13/2025House
  11. Read third time

    2/13/2025House
  12. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/13/2025House
  13. Read second time

    2/12/2025House
  14. Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N)

    2/10/2025House
  15. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)

    2/5/2025House
  16. Read first time

    2/4/2025House
  17. Assigned Courts sub: Criminal

    2/4/2025House
  18. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/4/2025House
  19. Placed on Calendar

    2/4/2025House
  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053)

    1/24/2025Senate
  21. Printed as reengrossed 25101514D-E2

    1/23/2025Senate
  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053)

    1/23/2025Senate
  23. Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

    1/23/2025Senate
  24. Reconsideration of Engrossment agreed to (39-Y 0-N)

    1/23/2025Senate
  25. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N)

    1/23/2025Senate

Bill Text

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