# Virginia SB269: Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system, civil penalty.

Virginia SB269, Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system, civil penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Barbara A. Favola (Democratic); status passed senate, last action 2026-03-02 (Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB269-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB269
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system, civil penalty.
- Status: passed senate
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-03-02, Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Barbara A. Favola (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Communications, Technology and Innovation
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (92 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Use of artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers; civil penalty. Permits the use of an artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers to assist in providing therapy or counseling services if such mental health service provider maintains full responsibility for all interactions, outputs, and data use associated with the system. The bill prohibits the use of an artificial intelligence system to provide therapy or counseling services without a mental health service provider. The bill specifies that records kept by mental health service providers must comply with health records privacy requirements; creates an exception for religious counseling, peer support, or self-help materials and educational resources; and establishes a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for violations of the statute.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Barbara A. Favola (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (18)

- 2026-03-02: Continued to 2027 in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation (House)
- 2026-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Committee substitute printed 26106455D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269) (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104492D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101064.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101063.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100054.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100053.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087049.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087048.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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101064.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101063.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100054.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100053.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087049.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087048.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB269-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).