KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

HB89 • 2026

Candidates for office; electronic filing of forms, petitions, etc., with Department of Elections.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-105, 24.2-241, 24.2-242, 24.2-501, 24.2-502, 24.2-503, 24.2-505, 24.2-506, 24.2-509, 24.2-511, 24.2-516, 24.2-517, 24.2-520, 24.2-521, 24.2-522, 24.2-525, 24.2-527, and 24.2-545 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of a section numbered 24.2-546, relating to elections; candidates for office; electronic filing of required forms filed with Department of Elections.</p>

Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Cole, J.G.
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly mention providing rules for how electronic petitions should look and work, only that it allows their collection electronically.

Elections; Electronic Filing for Candidates

This bill requires candidates and party officials to file forms, petitions, and notifications electronically with the Department of Elections.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Elections to develop an online filing system for electronic submissions by party officials or candidates.
  • Sets standards for electronic preparation, production, submission, and transmittal of all required forms by party officials and candidates.
  • Allows petition signatures to be collected electronically.
  • Provides formal requirements for signatures on electronic petitions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Candidates running for office
  • Party officials involved in elections

Terms To Know

Electronic filing
Filing documents online instead of on paper.
Petition signatures
Signatures collected to support a candidate or cause.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the new system will be funded.
  • It is unclear what happens if someone cannot use electronic filing.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB89AHC1

2026-01-19

Campaigns and Candidates Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to HB89 that sets the date when the bill's changes will take effect.

  • Adds a provision stating that all parts of HB89 will become effective on January 1, 2029.
  • The amendment only specifies the effective date and does not provide details about how or when electronic filing requirements will be implemented before this date.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Privileges and Elections

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Privileges and Elections

  3. 2026-01-28 Campaigns and Candidates

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB89)

  4. 2026-01-19 Campaigns and Candidates

    Assigned HPE sub: Campaigns and Candidates

  5. 2026-01-19 Campaigns and Candidates

    House subcommittee offered

  6. 2026-01-19 Campaigns and Candidates

    House subcommittee offered

  7. 2026-01-01 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101907D

  8. 2026-01-01 Privileges and Elections

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Elections; candidates for office; electronic filing of forms, petitions, and notifications with Department of Elections.
Requires the Department of Elections to develop and implement an online filing system to accept any form, petition, or notification filed by electronic means by a party official or candidate. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to develop standards for the electronic preparation, production, submission, and transmittal of all forms required of party officials and candidates. The bill also requires the State Board to prescribe all candidate and party forms in both paper and electronic formats. The bill allows for the collection of petition signatures by electronic means and provides formal requirements for signatures on electronic petitions. The bill makes technical amendments to provide uniformity in requirements for all such electronic filings.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 89

PRIVILEGES AND ELECTIONS

1. After line 530, introduced

insert

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2029.