# Virginia SB753: Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages, statute of limitations.

Virginia SB753, Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages, statute of limitations., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bryce E. Reeves (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0630)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB753-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB753
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages, statute of limitations.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-20
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0630)
- Sponsor: Bryce E. Reeves (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 10 (276 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages; statute of limitations. Expands the existing ability for any person to maintain a suit in equity, including the accompanying remedies available and statute of limitations, for the unauthorized use of his name, portrait, or picture for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade to include the unauthorized use of his voice or likeness. This bill is identical to HB 581.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Your voice and likeness gain legal protection: benefit, medium. Virginia's law adds your voice and likeness to existing protections for your name, portrait, or picture. Use for advertising or trade requires written consent. For minors, a parent or guardian must consent; for deceased people, the surviving spouse must consent, or otherwise next of kin. Without re…
- Identity-use claims face deadline after death: cost, low. A lawsuit under Virginia's identity-use law cannot be started more than 20 years after the person's death. The clock runs from death, not from the unauthorized use. This limit also applies to claims filed on behalf of a deceased person.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bryce E. Reeves (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Communications, Technology and Innovation | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 8 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice | pass | 11 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0630) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 630 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB753ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-11: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Communications, Technology and Innovation (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil (House)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Reported from Courts of Justice (11-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Presented and ordered printed 26104402D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221598.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221597.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213428.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213427.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092313.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092311.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/1221598.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221597.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213428.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213427.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092313.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092311.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-SB753-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).