State Del. Rae Cousins has introduced a measure aimed at regulating the use of synthetic media in election communications by mandating clear disclosure when such material is utilized, as outlined by the Virginia State House.
The measure, HB868, introduced on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is officially titled: “Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.”
The following is a summary based on the bill’s text, offering clarification of its provisions where necessary.
Essentially, the legislation addresses election communications utilizing synthetic media, described as AI-generated or altered imagery or audio of recognizable individuals that could deceive an average person into believing in fabricated scenarios. It prohibits anyone or any campaign committee from funding such communications without a prominent disclaimer that states the content was altered or artificially generated. The bill specifies font and timing standards for various media formats. Registered voters can seek injunctions and attorney fees to stop content that violates these requirements. It also delineates where such cases may be tried, provides for civil and criminal penalties for breaches, requires verification of the identity of those buying electioneering communications, and exempts content that is clearly satire or parody.
Only Rep. Rae Cousins (Democrat-79th District) has sponsored the bill.
Cousins has proposed an additional 18 pieces of legislation during this session.
Cousins earned her BA from the College of William and Mary in 2001 and her JD from Howard University School of Law in 2010.
A Democrat, Cousins took office in the Virginia State House in 2024 representing the 79th House district, succeeding prior representative Nadarius Clark.
In Virginia, the legislative process begins once a bill is brought forward in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. Assignments are made to committee(s) for detailed review and amendment. If passed out of committee, the measure advances to floor debate and voting in both chambers. Upon passage by both, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign, veto, or let it become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets every year in regular session starting the second Monday in January, introducing a large volume of legislation, though only some measures are enacted.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rae Cousins | HB868 | 01/14/2026 | Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty. |
| Rae Cousins, Katrina Callsen, and Virgil Thornton | HB845 | 01/14/2026 | Unlawful detainer; bifurcation of case, contested rent and damages. |
| Rae Cousins, Charlie Schmidt, Debra D. Gardner, Delores L. McQuinn, Jackie H. Glass, and Karen Keys-Gamarra | HB848 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord, rent escrow, relief. |
| Rae Cousins and Charlie Schmidt | HB849 | 01/14/2026 | Public school employees; suspension, notice and opportunity for a hearing. |
| Rae Cousins, Bonita G. Anthony, Charlie Schmidt, Jackie H. Glass, Marty Martinez, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nadarius E. Clark, Patrick A. Hope, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Virgil Thornton | HB852 | 01/14/2026 | Indigent defendant; abolition of fees, legal representation, jury trial costs, report. |
| Rae Cousins | HB853 | 01/14/2026 | Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility, procedures, report. |
| Rae Cousins | HB854 | 01/14/2026 | Real property tax; local classification or designation for property, nonprofit organizations. |
| Rae Cousins, Kathy K.L. Tran, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Briana D. Sewell, Charlie Schmidt, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nicole Cole, and Virgil Thornton | HB855 | 01/14/2026 | Medicaid; estate recoveries. |
| Rae Cousins, Delores L. McQuinn, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Holly M. Seibold, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Jeion A. Ward, Kathy K.L. Tran, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, and Michelle Lopes Maldonado | HB857 | 01/14/2026 | Home/electronic incarceration program; court shall assign pregnant/postpartum persons to program. |
| Rae Cousins, Paul E. Krizek, Bonita G. Anthony, Charlie Schmidt, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Gretchen M Bulova, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Joshua G. Cole, Karrie K. Delaney, M. Keith Hodges, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nadarius E. Clark, Nicole Cole, Patrick A. Hope, Rodney T. Willett, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Sam Rasoul | HB858 | 01/14/2026 | Legal holidays; replaces Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. |
| Rae Cousins, Amy J. Laufer, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, and Nicole Cole | HB859 | 01/14/2026 | Farm to School Program Task Force; membership requirements. |
| Rae Cousins, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, and Mark C. Downey | HB860 | 01/14/2026 | Local & Reg. Jails, St. Bd.; standards, etc., regarding lactation policies for incarcerated persons. |
| Rae Cousins, Bonita G. Anthony, and Holly M. Seibold | HB861 | 01/14/2026 | Pregnant & postpartum inmates; reporting requirements of state, regional, & local correctional fac. |
| Rae Cousins | HB862 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), Commission on; structure and responsibilities. |
| Rae Cousins | HB863 | 01/14/2026 | Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences. |
| Rae Cousins, Adele Y. McClure, Atoosa R. Reaser, Bonita G. Anthony, Charlie Schmidt, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Jessica L. Anderson, John Chilton McAuliff, Karen R. “Kacey” Carnegie, Kathy K.L. Tran, Katrina Callsen, Kimberly Pope Adams, Laura Jane Cohen, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marty Martinez, Michael B. Feggans, Nadarius E. Clark, Patrick A. Hope, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Stacey Annie Carroll | HB865 | 01/14/2026 | Workers’ compensation; presumption of compensability for certain cancers. |
| Rae Cousins, Bonita G. Anthony, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Marty Martinez, and Patrick A. Hope | HB867 | 01/14/2026 | Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority. |
| Rae Cousins | HB869 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Public Procurement Act; purchase programs for local farm or food products. |
| Rae Cousins, Lamont Bagby, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marty Martinez, and R. Lee Ware | HB872 | 01/14/2026 | Portable electronic devices; possession in district or circuit court, policies set by chief judge. |
Details in this article were sourced from the Virginia State House. Find the source data here.
