The Virginia General Assembly passed HB 1186 and SB 394 in March 2026, requiring the state Department of Education to develop guidelines for the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI systems in instructional settings. The House of Delegates passed both bills 95-0; the Senate passed SB 394 by 37-2 and HB 1186 by 38-1. The bills were presented to Governor Glenn Youngkin in late March 2026.
SB 394 additionally establishes an AI Innovation in Education Pilot Programme, requiring a report to the General Assembly. The two bills reflect a bipartisan consensus that state-level guidance is needed as AI tool use among Virginia teachers (85%) and students (86%) already stands at high levels.
Earlier comprehensive AI legislation was tabled until 2027, but the education-specific measures advanced with near-unanimous support. Virginia previously issued voluntary AI Guidelines for Educators through the Office of the Secretary of Education.
Who it affects: All Virginia public school students and educators. Local school divisions will receive mandatory guidance from the state DoE on responsible AI use for instruction.
What is notably missing: The bills require DoE to provide guidelines, not schools to follow a specific curriculum. No funding mechanism is attached. No teacher training mandate or minimum training standard is created. Bills have not yet been signed into law by the governor as of April 2026.