Committee forwards, carries over and tables a slate of AI and digital-technology bills
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Summary
A batch of AI- and technology-related measures were moved by the House committee: HB 310 (agency workforce AI reporting) was reported and referred to Appropriations 13–7; HB 797 (independent verification organizations) and HB 1186 (Board of Education AI guidance) were reported and referred; several forensic and AI bills were carried to 2027 and HB 1170 was laid on the table 21–1.
The House Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation on Feb. 2 handled a cluster of bills addressing artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and related oversight, advancing several and carrying others into the next legislative cycle.
The committee accepted a substitute for House Bill 310 and voted to report and refer it to Appropriations. "As amended as a substitute, it establishes reporting requirements for each agency in the Commonwealth relating to the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce," the chair said. The committee roll-call on HB 310 was recorded in committee business as 13–7.
The panel also reported House Bill 797, which would create a licensing framework for independent verification organizations (IVOs) to assess AI systems and align them with standards intended to prevent personal injury or property damage; the committee referred that measure to Appropriations. "This license would be from the Virginia Information Technology Agency," Chair Glass said while describing the substitute.
On education policy, House Bill 1186 (substitute) would require the Board of Education, working with the Department of Education's office of educational technologies and VITA, to post publicly accessible guidance on the safe, ethical and equitable use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. The committee reported the substitute and referred HB 1186 to the Education Committee.
Several matters were continued: Chair Glass said House Bills 83, 1294, 1295 and 1521 were recommended by the communications subcommittee to be carried over to 2027 for further work. Two forensic laboratory accreditation bills (HB 1257 and HB 1261) were also carried into 2027 after committee discussion that work was ongoing.
Separately, House Bill 1170 — which would require law-enforcement agencies using AI to post agency policies — was 'gently laid on the table' with a request for further work and a referral letter; the committee recorded that vote as 21–1.
What happens next: the measures reported to Appropriations and Education will go to those committees for fiscal and policy review; bills carried to 2027 remain eligible for future sessions. Committee members noted technical and fiscal 'fists' on some measures and requested further staff work before final action.
The meeting record shows the committee moved through multiple substitutes and referrals in a single session and then adjourned.