HB 581 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages, statute of limitations.

Summary
Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages; statute of limitations. Expands the existing ability for any person to maintain a suit in equity, including the accompanying remedies available and statute of limitations, for the unauthorized use of his name, portrait, or picture for advertising purposes or for the purposes of trade to include the unauthorized use of his voice or likeness. This bill is identical to SB 753.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Courts of Justice Substitute Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 629 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding unauthorized use of voice or likeness, punitive damages, and the statute of limitations remains unchanged from the substitute version.
TIMELINE

The document status changed from a proposed Senate substitute to an officially approved chapter of the Virginia Acts of Assembly.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 629 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB581ER)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors