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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.
Introduced
Jan 12, 2026
Last Action
Mar 2, 2026
Session
VA 2026
Sponsors
1 primary · 0 co
Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269)
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
Read first time
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read second time
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Rules suspended
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Committee substitute printed 26106455D-S1
Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
Senate committee offered
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB269)
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104492D
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Get a plain-English explanation of what this bill does, who it affects, and why it matters.
Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
Barbara A. Favola