Governor Spanberger signs HB 1186 Legislation into law on April 13, 2026, establishing Virginia’s first formal legislative framework governing the use of artificial intelligence systems in public school instruction. The law directs the Virginia Department of Education to develop and publish guidance for the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AI in instructional settings and requires every school board to establish and enforce policies consistent with that guidance. VDOE guidance is expected to publish by July 2026.
The legislation also establishes the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program to fund and scale AI applications in instruction, tutoring, student engagement, and operational support across Virginia’s public schools. The Department of Education is required to compile current AI system usage data across the Commonwealth and submit annual reports to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health. The program expires July 1, 2030.