Virginia legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Virginia HB2479: An Act to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-261, 19.2-249.2, 24.2-955, 24.2-955.1, 24.2-955.3, and 24.2-960 of the Code of Virginia and
Status: Vetoed, April 2, 2025
Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
(HB2479) GOVERNOR'S VETO Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 2479, which establishes disclosure requirements for electioneering communications containing synthetic media and assigns enforcement responsibilities to the State Board of Elections. Ensuring transparency in political communications is a worthy objective, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to evolve. However, this legislation imposes an impractical enforcement structure that lacks clear, workable mechanisms and raises significant constitutional and logistical concerns. The bill requires the State Board of Elections and ELECT to determine whether electioneering materials contain synthetic media and whether the required disclosures have been properly applied. Unlike traditional campaign finance and advertising regulations, these determinations involve highly technical assessments that the agency is not equipped to handle. Further, identifying the sponsors of AI-generated communications--especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape--would be extraordinarily difficult, limiting the bill's effectiveness. Additionally, the bill allows recipients of electioneering communications to seek injunctive relief, which could result in politically motivated legal actions and inconsistent enforcement. The potential for increased litigation, coupled with the lack of clarity regarding enforcement, creates unnecessary burdens on both regulators and political participants. Other states have sought to regulate AI-generated political content, but this bill's broad and vague approach lacks the precision necessary to ensure fair and enforceable application. The constitutional concerns surrounding political speech, …
Sponsors
- Mark Sickles (D, 17) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : House sustained Governor's veto
- : Vetoed by Governor
- : Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
- : Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
- : Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2479)
- : Signed by President
- : Signed by Speaker
- : Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2479ER)
- : Enrolled
- : Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2479)
Votes
- Conference Committee Report (February 22, 2025): 76 yea, 22 nay, passed
- Adopt Conference Committee Report R (February 22, 2025): 23 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Insist & Request R (February 19, 2025): 38 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate Substitute (February 18, 2025): 0 yea, 96 nay, failed
- Passage R (February 14, 2025): 23 yea, 13 nay, passed
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (February 13, 2025): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB2479?
- HB2479 is a bill in the Virginia Legislature (2025 Regular Session): An Act to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-261, 19.2-249.2, 24.2-955, 24.2-955.1, 24.2-955.3, and 24.2-960 of the Code of Virginia and .
- What does HB2479 do?
- Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
- What is the status of HB2479?
- Vetoed as of April 2, 2025. Latest action: House sustained Governor's veto (April 2, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB2479?
- Mark Sickles (D, 17).
- Where is the official record for HB2479?
- On the Virginia Legislature website: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2479
Source: official Virginia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.