Communications Subcommittee

Monday, February 2, 2026·1h 37m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Communications Subcommittee advanced bills on AI workforce transparency, AI verification standards, AI in schools, and AI in policing, with heated debate on state-level regulation versus federal patchwork concerns — ultimately reporting HB 310, HB 797, and HB 1186 as substituted while carrying over HB 1294 and HB 1295 to 2027.

Key Actions

·HB 83 – Cybersecurity CarryoverNo Vote

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

State-level AI verification framework vs. federal patchwork concern (HB 797)

Delegate Griffin argued 'the idea of 50 different states doing a patchwork approach to this, I think it seems unwise' and that states imposing AI regulations 'are the states that are going to not be competitive in this area.' Delegate Maldonado argued in the opposite direction, stating 'the slowness of action and implementation at the federal level is exactly why Virginia has continued to be a leader in this space' and cautioning that the federal AI executive order 'is not law.'

+ 6 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“The idea of 50 different states doing a patchwork approach to this, I think it seems unwise. I know that the big beautiful bill actually addressed some of the boundaries of AI. And I think that we're in an arms race right now with other countries. And so if each state starts putting these regs on, those are the states that are going to not be competitive in this area.”
Delegate Griffin — Delegate Griffin explained his opposition to HB 797, which would establish a voluntary AI verification framework through VITA, arguing that state-level AI regulation fragments the national landscape and harms Virginia's competitiveness.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Carry over HB 83 to 2027Passed

Adopt substitute for HB 310Passed

Report HB 310 as substituted and refer to AppropriationsPassed

Carry over HB 669 (initial vote)Passed

Reconsider vote on HB 669 (moved by Delegate Maldonado)Passed

Take HB 669 by for the day (after reconsideration)Passed

Take HB 713 by for the dayPassed

Carry over House Bill 1520 [transcript number used in motion; bill also referenced as HB 1521 — unclear which is correct] to 2027Passed

Adopt substitute for HB 797Passed

Report HB 797 as substituted and refer to AppropriationsPassed

Adopt first substitute for HB 1186Passed

Adopt second substitute for HB 1186 (AIs abbreviation change)Passed

Report HB 1186 as substituted and refer to Committee on EducationPassed

Carry over HB 1294 to 2027 (moved by Delegate Siebold)Passed

Carry over HB 1295 to 2027 (moved by Delegate McGuire)Passed

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TranscriptPreview

The committee will come to order. The committee will be at ease. Good morning. Good morning. I call this subcommittee meeting for committee Communications, technology and Innovation, the communications subcommittee to order. This is our first meeting of the session, which is kind of probably a little weird. Feels like we should have had a couple by then, but by now. So we're going to try to be as efficient as possible. Leveling set, level setting. We've got a healthy docket this morning. I want to set some ground rules before we get started. My ask is that my role in this. This stick is to keep good order and discipline and to ensure that the subcommittee operates effectively, efficiently. And while there may be some issues where folks disagree, we ask that you do so civilly. Any discussions that you have with the committee will go through the chair. And I will give each side, depending on the docket, which I think this may be our last. We have last one the same amount of time to speed. We'll try to operate firmly but fairly. With that, I'm going to go ahead and call up. I would ask the…

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