2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101321D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1186

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.3:2, relating to school board policies; prohibition on use of artificial intelligence chatbots for certain student instructional purposes.

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Patrons—Rasoul and Maldonado

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Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.3:2 as follows:

§ 22.1-79.3:2. School board policies; prohibition on use of artificial intelligence chatbots for certain student instructional purposes.

A. As used in this section:

"Artificial intelligence system" means any machine learning-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the inputs such system receives how to generate outputs, including content, decisions, predictions, and recommendations, that can influence physical or virtual environments. "Artificial intelligence system" does not include any artificial intelligence system or general purpose artificial intelligence model that is used for development, prototyping, and research activities before such artificial intelligence system or general purpose artificial intelligence model is made available to deployers or consumers.

"Artificial intelligence chatbot" means an artificial intelligence system that simulates human-like conversations with the human user, through text or voice, by attempting to discern the intent of the human user, learn from interactions with the human user, and deliver contextually relevant responses to inquiries from the human user.

B. In recognition of the fact that artificial chatbots are unreliable sources of information and that the use of artificial intelligence chatbots decreases critical thinking skills and therefore impairs learning, each school board shall develop, adopt, and implement a policy to prohibit any student from being required, encouraged, or permitted to interact with an artificial intelligence chatbot in order to receive instruction or otherwise complete any lesson or assignment in any course or class in which the student is enrolled in the local school division.