HB971
College student-athletes; biometric data, protections and limitations.
Status:
Enacted
Latest Action:
April 6, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 247 (effective 7/1/2026)
Chief Patron:
Cia Price (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. 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 ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103119D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Education
- 02/05/2026 - House: Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
- 02/06/2026 - House: Placed on Education Agenda
- 02/09/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N)
- 02/09/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB971)
- 02/10/2026 - House: Placed on Education Agenda
- 02/11/2026 - House: Reported from Education (19-Y 1-N 1-A)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read second time and engrossed
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (93-Y 3-N 0-A)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/14/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 03/14/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB971ER)
- 03/14/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/16/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB971)
- 03/25/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
- 03/25/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- 04/06/2026 - Approved by Governor-Chapter 247 (effective 7/1/2026)
