2025 Regular SessionVirginia Legislature

HB1796: Corporations; creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations.

Legislative Summary

Corporations; decentralized autonomous organizations. Creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations, defined in the bill as a distinct legal entity that operates through blockchain-based governance frameworks, incorporating self-executing smart contracts and decentralized decision-making mechanisms. The bill provides that an entity seeking to become a decentralized autonomous organization must file its articles of organization with the State Corporation Commission in order to seek a certificate of organization and requires such articles of organization to designate an operator of record. The bill permits a limited liability company to elect to become a decentralized autonomous organization with management vested in its members or smart contracts and contains requirements for its articles of organization and operating agreements. The bill also contains provisions governing the relationships and rights of members of a decentralized autonomous organization and for the dissolution of a decentralized autonomous organization. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.

Demographic Impact

Overall analysis of equity impact

Neutral
Low Confidence

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Bill History

1/6/2025
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25102358D
House of Delegates
1/6/2025
Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
House of Delegates
1/16/2025
Assigned CT & I sub: Technology and Innovation
House of Delegates
1/22/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1796)
House of Delegates
1/22/2025
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Labor and Commerce (9-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
1/27/2025
Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute (20-Y 2-N)
House of Delegates
1/27/2025
Committee substitute printed 25105480D-H1
House of Delegates
1/29/2025
Read first time
House of Delegates
1/30/2025
Read second time
House of Delegates
1/30/2025
Communications, Technology and Innovation Substitute agreed to
House of Delegates
1/30/2025
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
House of Delegates
1/30/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1796)
House of Delegates
1/31/2025
Read third time and passed House (87-Y 8-N)
House of Delegates
2/3/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Senate
2/3/2025
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Senate
2/10/2025
Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 0-N 4-A)
Senate
2/17/2025
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (14-Y 0-N)
Senate
2/19/2025
Rules suspended
Senate
2/19/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
Senate
2/19/2025
Passed by for the day
Senate
2/20/2025
Read third time
Senate
2/20/2025
Reading of amendment waived
Senate
2/20/2025
Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to
Senate
2/20/2025
Reading of amendment waived
Senate
2/20/2025
Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to
Senate
2/20/2025
Engrossed by Senate as amended
Senate
2/20/2025
Defeated by Senate (17-Y 22-N)
Senate
2/20/2025
Reconsideration of defeat agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
Senate
2/20/2025
Defeated by Senate (19-Y 19-N 1-A), Chair Votes No
Senate
2/20/2025
Reconsideration of defeat agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
Senate
2/20/2025
Passed by temporarily
Senate
2/20/2025
Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 19-N)
Senate
2/20/2025
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (85-Y 10-N)
House of Delegates
3/7/2025
Enrolled
House of Delegates
3/7/2025
Signed by Speaker
House of Delegates
3/7/2025
Enrolled
House of Delegates
3/10/2025
Signed by President
Senate
3/11/2025
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
House of Delegates
3/11/2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
3/24/2025
Governor's recommendation received by House
3/24/2025
Governor's substitute printed (HB1796H2)
House of Delegates
4/2/2025
House rejected Governor's recommendation (28-Y 68-N)
House of Delegates
4/2/2025
Communicated to Governor
House of Delegates
4/2/2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025

Amendments

Commerce and Labor Amendment

Commerce and Labor Amendment

Not Adopted

Finance and Appropriations Subcommittee Amendment

Finance and Appropriations Subcommittee Amendment

Not Adopted

Senate Amendments

Senate Amendments

Not Adopted

Finance and Appropriations Amendment

Finance and Appropriations Amendment

Not Adopted

Roll Call Votes

House rejected Governor's recommendation (28-Y 68-N)
4/2/2025
28
Yea
68
Nay
0
Not Voting
4
Absent
Result: FAILED
Passed Senate with amendments (20-Y 19-N)
2/20/2025
20
Yea
19
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Defeated by Senate (17-Y 22-N)
2/20/2025
17
Yea
22
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: FAILED
Defeated by Senate (19-Y 19-N 1-A), Chair Votes No
2/20/2025
19
Yea
19
Nay
1
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: FAILED
Reconsideration of defeat agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
2/20/2025
39
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Senate Amendments agreed to by House (85-Y 10-N)
2/20/2025
85
Yea
10
Nay
0
Not Voting
5
Absent
Result: PASSED
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
2/19/2025
40
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (14-Y 0-N)
2/17/2025
14
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 0-N 4-A)
2/10/2025
11
Yea
0
Nay
4
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Read third time and passed House (87-Y 8-N)
1/31/2025
87
Yea
8
Nay
0
Not Voting
5
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute (20-Y 2-N)
1/27/2025
20
Yea
2
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Labor and Commerce (9-Y 0-N)
1/22/2025
9
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
2
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Enrolled(3/7/2025)
Chamber
House of Delegates

Documents

Comm Sub
Bill Text3/25/20252.7 KB
Enrolled
Bill Text3/7/202534.1 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text1/22/202539.0 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/6/202538.8 KB
Misc
Misc3/24/20250.3 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/30/2025132.5 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/21/2025134.6 KB