HB 971 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

College student-athletes; biometric data, protections and limitations.

Summary
College student-athletes; biometric data; protections and limitations. Prohibits any private institution of higher education, associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education, or baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth from disclosing to any individual or entity outside of the institution any enrolled student-athlete's biometric data, as defined in the bill, without the prior written consent of the student-athlete. The bill also prohibits any individual or entity from making the possession, use, or ownership of or the rights to any student-athlete's biometric data a condition of any contract with the student-athlete for the use of the student-athlete's name, image, or likeness without the prior written consent of the student-athlete in a writing that is separate and apart from such contract.
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 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally approved and enacted into law as Chapter 247 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive legal text regarding student-athlete biometric data protections remains unchanged, with the only modifications being the addition of official session headers, chapter numbers, and approval dates.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill now has the force of law.
TECHNICAL

Added official session headers, chapter number (247), and the approval date (April 6, 2026) to finalize the bill as law.

Adjusted line breaks and spacing to match the standard formatting of the final enacted statutes.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Mar 6, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 247 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB971ER)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (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
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (93-Y 3-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education (19-Y 1-N 1-A)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors