HB971Virginia2026 sessionPassed / Enacted
College student-athletes; biometric data, protections and limitations.
Facial recognition & biometricsLikeness & IP (name/image/voice)Data privacy & training dataEducation use
Plain-language summary
Prohibits Virginia colleges and universities from disclosing a student-athlete's biometric data to outside parties without the athlete's prior written consent. The bill also bars any entity from conditioning a name, image, and likeness contract on access to the student-athlete's biometric data without separate written consent.
Summary generated by AI from the official bill text — may contain errors.
History
Jan 13, 2026
HPrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103119D
Jan 13, 2026
HReferred to Committee on Education
Feb 5, 2026
HAssigned HED sub: Higher Education
Feb 9, 2026
HSubcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N)
Feb 9, 2026
HFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB971)
Feb 11, 2026
HReported from Education (19-Y 1-N 1-A)
Feb 13, 2026
HRead first time
Feb 16, 2026
HRead second time and engrossed
Feb 17, 2026
HRead third time and passed House (93-Y 3-N 0-A)
Feb 18, 2026
SConstitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Feb 18, 2026
SReferred to Committee on Education and Health
Mar 2, 2026
SAssigned Education sub: Higher Education
Mar 5, 2026
SReported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
Mar 6, 2026
SRules suspended
Mar 6, 2026
SConstitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Mar 6, 2026
SPassed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Mar 9, 2026
SRead third time
Mar 9, 2026
SPassed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Mar 14, 2026
HEnrolled
Mar 14, 2026
HBill text as passed House and Senate (HB971ER)
Mar 14, 2026
HSigned by Speaker
Mar 14, 2026
SSigned by President
Mar 16, 2026
HFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB971)
Mar 25, 2026
HEnrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Apr 6, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 247 (effective 7/1/2026)
Apr 6, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0247)
Progress
Introduced
Engrossed
Enrolled
Passed
Signed into lawApr 6, 2026
Sponsors
MP
Rep. Marcia Price (D)Prime sponsor
EB
Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
RC
Rep. Rae Cousins (D)
JG
Rep. Jackie Glass (D)
IO
Rep. Israel O'Quinn (R)
KT
Rep. Kathy Tran (D)
Sources
Always verify against the official source. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors.