# Virginia SB1053: Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause.

Virginia SB1053, Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0407)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1053-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1053
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0407)
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (290 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-13 | House | Passed House | pass | 89 | 8 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Reconsideration of Engrossment agreed to | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-23 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-21 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (41)

- 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0407) (Governor)
- 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 407 (Effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1053ER) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-13: Passed House (89-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2025-02-13: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-13: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2025-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from Courts of Justice (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2025-02-04: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-04: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal (House)
- 2025-02-04: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2025-02-04: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Printed as reengrossed 25101514D-E2 (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Reconsideration of Engrossment agreed to (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Reengrossed by Senate as amended (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Amendment by Senator Ebbin, Adam P. agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Printed as engrossed 25101514D-E (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1053E (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Courts of Justice Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-22: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB1053) (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Reported from Courts of Justice with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101514D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-04-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079677.HTML)
- Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074289.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074288.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1051273.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1051272.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042784.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042783.PDF)
- Amendment, 2025-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024250.HTML)
- Reengrossed, 2025-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1027717.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1027716.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025802.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025801.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017664.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017663.PDF)

## 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
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1079677.HTML)
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074289.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074288.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1051273.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1051272.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042784.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1042783.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1024250.HTML)
- [Reengrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1027717.HTML)
- [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1027716.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025802.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1025801.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017664.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1017663.PDF)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1053-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).