Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Senate Bill 388 on April 13, 2026, amending the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act to prohibit the sale of geolocation data, effective July 1, 2026.

The amendment defines “sale” as an exchange of personal data for monetary consideration, narrowing the scope relative to definitions in Maryland and Oregon.

Virginia joins several states that have introduced similar bans, including California, Massachusetts, Vermont and Washington. The activity follows a March 2025 investigation by the California Attorney General into the location data industry and a 2024 FTC settlement that barred a data broker from selling geolocation data.

The legislation is intended to protect consumer privacy by restricting commercial transfers of location information, according to the bill text.

The prohibition takes effect July 1, 2026, and the broader impact on the geolocation data market remains uncertain.