ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB394 Signed by Governor
SB394 Senate Bill
Signed by Governor
2026-03-30

Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction.

Department of Education; artificial intelligence system use in instructional settings; development of AIS safety guidance required; AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established; report. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with school divisions and other relevant stakeholders, to compile information on current uses of artificial intelligence systems (AIS) for student instruction in public schools in the Commonwealth and to establish and post in a publicly accessible location on its website guidance for the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AIS in instructional settings in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill requires each school board to establish, implement, and enforce policies consistent with the guidance developed by the Department in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill also directs the Department to establish and oversee the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program for the purpose of funding, evaluating, and scaling innovative uses of AIS in public elementary and secondary schools by providing support to school divisions in piloting AIS applications for instruction, tutoring, student engagement, operational efficiency, and teacher support and to submit an annual report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1. The Pilot Program has an expiration date of July 1, 2030. This bill is identical to HB 1186.

Bill Details

State

Virginia

Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Chamber

Senate

Official Source

lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB394

LegiScan

View on LegiScan

Sponsors

Stella Pekarsky (Sen - D)

Action History

2026-03-31 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 H Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB394)
2026-03-30 S Signed by President
2026-03-30 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB394ER)
2026-03-30 S Enrolled
2026-03-13 H Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-13 S Conference report agreed to by Senate (37-Y 2-N 0-A)
2026-03-12 Conference Report released
2026-03-12 H House Conferees: Rasoul, Maldonado, Cherry
2026-03-12 H Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-12 S Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Favola, Head
2026-03-12 S Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-12 S Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-11 H House requested conference committee
2026-03-11 H House insisted on substitute
2026-03-10 S House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 H Passed House with substitute (96-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 H Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-03-09 H committee substitute agreed to
2026-03-09 H Read third time
2026-03-06 H Read second time
2026-03-05 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB394)
2026-03-04 H Committee substitute printed 26108797D-H1
2026-03-04 H Reported from Education with substitute (20-Y 1-N)
2026-03-03 H House subcommittee offered
2026-03-03 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N)
2026-02-26 H Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
2026-02-23 H Referred from Communications, Technology and Innovation and referred to Education (Voice Vote)
2026-02-19 H Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
2026-02-19 H Read first time
2026-02-19 H Placed on Calendar
2026-02-16 S Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 S Rules suspended
2026-02-16 S Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 S Read second time
2026-02-13 S Passed by for the day
2026-02-13 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 S Rules suspended
2026-02-12 S Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-12 S Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-05 S Assigned Education sub: Public Education
2026-02-02 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB394)
2026-01-13 S Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-01-13 S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105454D

Votes

2026-02-12 Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0
2026-02-12 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0
2026-02-13 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 35 Nay: 0
2026-02-16 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0
2026-02-16 Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 1-N 0-A) Yea: 38 Nay: 1
2026-03-03 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 1
2026-03-04 Reported from Education with substitute (20-Y 1-N) Yea: 20 Nay: 1
2026-03-09 Passed House with substitute (96-Y 1-N 0-A) Yea: 96 Nay: 1
2026-03-10 House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) Yea: 0 Nay: 40
2026-03-12 Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0
2026-03-13 Conference report agreed to by Senate (37-Y 2-N 0-A) Yea: 37 Nay: 2
2026-03-13 Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 95 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-13 S Education and Health
2026-02-05 S Education: Public Education
2026-02-12 S Finance and Appropriations
2026-02-19 H Communications, Technology and Innovation
2026-02-23 H Education
2026-02-26 H Education: K-12

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-13 Introduced
2026-03-03 Comm Sub
2026-03-03 Comm Sub
2026-03-04 Comm Sub
2026-03-12 Comm Sub
2026-03-30 Enrolled

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