VA SB 1392 / HB 2031 (2021 FR moratorium, narrowed 2022)
Virginia SB 1392 / HB 2031 — Local Law Enforcement Facial Recognition Moratorium (Original 2020-21)
VA · Va. Code § 15.2-1723.2 (former, HB 2031 / SB 1392 2021) — substantially superseded by HB 1352 / SB 741 (2022)
- Status
- Repealed / replaced
- Took effect
- July 1, 2021
- Applies to
- Virginia local law enforcement and campus police (was)
- Enforced by
- Internal department oversight (was)
Virginia's 2021 facial recognition moratorium (HB 2031, with Sen. Boysko's SB 1392 companion) prohibited local law enforcement use of facial recognition without legislative authorization. It was rolled back in 2022 by HB 1352 / SB 741 which authorized use with constraints — making the 2021 moratorium one of the shortest-lived state AI restrictions on record.
Who is protected: Virginians subject to local police FR (was)
Legal detail
HB 2031 / SB 1392 (2021 Reg. Sess.) — added Va. Code § 15.2-1723.2 prohibiting local law enforcement and campus police from purchasing or using facial recognition technology absent express legislative authorization. Effective July 1, 2021. Substantially repealed/replaced July 1, 2022 by HB 1352 / SB 741 (2022 Reg. Sess.), which authorized local police use of FR services subject to accuracy testing, audit logs, and use restrictions.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | VA |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Enacted | April 7, 2021 |
| Citation | Va. Code § 15.2-1723.2 (former, HB 2031 / SB 1392 2021) — substantially superseded by HB 1352 / SB 741 (2022) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | facial recognition · biometric data · police and surveillance AI |
| Bill text | HB 2031 — Virginia LIS |
More AI rules in VA
- VA SCC Data Center Rate Case · In effect
- VA EO 30 (2024) · Repealed / replaced
- VA HB 2094 (vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA DOI AI Bulletin · In effect
Related facial recognition rules elsewhere
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Bristol VA PD facial recognition program (first VA local agency) · In effect
- Dallas PD Clearview AI facial recognition policy · In effect
- Ban biometric recognition in public accommodations (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Limit facial recognition in residential buildings (Ban The Scan) · Proposed / pending
- Texas v. Google · In effect
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