An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-20.2:1, relating to Department of Education; artificial intelligence system use in instructional settings; development of AIS safety guidance required; AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established; report.
HB1186 adds a new section to the Code of Virginia directing the Department of Education to study and guide the use of artificial intelligence systems in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill requires the Department, working with local school divisions and other stakeholders, to collect information on current AI uses in instruction and publish publicly accessible guidance on safe, ethical, and equitable AI use in schools. That guidance must address student privacy, teacher training, transparency, bias and discrimination, accessibility, data-sharing limits, and alignment with the Standards of Learning and high-quality instructional materials.
The bill also establishes the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program, subject to appropriations, to fund and evaluate innovative AI uses in schools for instruction, tutoring, student engagement, operational efficiency, and teacher support. Participating divisions must provide educator professional development and submit evaluation plans measuring effects on learning, teacher workload, and equity. The Department must report annually to legislative education committees on funded projects, outcomes, risks, and recommendations for broader expansion or regulation. The pilot authority expires on July 1, 2030.
The bill creates a new statutory framework in § 22.1-20.2:1 of the Code of Virginia governing artificial intelligence in K-12 instructional settings. It imposes new duties on the Department of Education to issue guidance and oversee a pilot program, and it requires local school boards to adopt policies consistent with that guidance. It also sets specific operational expectations for approved AI tools, including division-managed controls, auditability, teacher access to student interaction transcripts, and restrictions on using school or student data to train external models.
The voting history suggests broad bipartisan support for the general concept of the bill, with strong committee and floor votes in both chambers and final enactment as Chapter 937. The bill appears to have been viewed as a proactive, structured approach to emerging AI use in schools, balancing innovation with privacy, safety, and oversight. The presence of substitutes and a conference report indicates that the chambers refined the measure, but the final outcome shows consensus on moving forward.
The main points of contention appear to have centered on how much control school divisions should have over AI tools, how strongly to restrict data use and external model training, and whether the state should prioritize innovation or caution. The bill’s requirements for privacy protections, transparency, bias safeguards, and division-managed platforms suggest concern about student data and high-stakes decision-making. The Senate and House exchanged substitutes before agreeing to a conference report, indicating some disagreement over the exact policy design, though the final votes show those differences were resolved.