2026 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

26110190D

HOUSE BILL NO. 639

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Governor

on April 13, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Krizek)

A BILL to amend and reenact § 24.2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; administration; acceptance of certain gifts and funding; approval required.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 24.2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 24.2-124.1. Acceptance of certain gifts and funding; approval required.

The State Board, the Department, each local electoral board, and all offices of the general registrar shall not solicit, accept, use, or dispose of any money, grants, property, or services with a value of more than $1,000 annually given by a private individual or nongovernmental entity for the purpose of funding voter education and outreach programs, voter registration programs, or any other expense incurred in the conduct of elections unless acceptance of such funding has been approved by a two-thirds majority vote of all members of the State Board. The recipient shall report any money, grants, property, or services provided by a private individual or nongovernmental entity to the Department through a process established by the Department.

This section shall not be construed to prohibit (i) the operation of a polling place or voter satellite office in a facility furnished by a private individual or nongovernmental entity that otherwise meets the requirements for polling places provided in §§ 24.2-310 and 24.2-310.1 or voter satellite offices provided in § 24.2-701.2 or (ii) any acceptance of a federal government grant funded in whole or in part by donations from private individuals or nongovernmental entities.

2. That the Department shall publish and distribute guidance for local electoral boards and offices of general registrars regarding acceptance of and acceptable uses of money, grants, property, and services pursuant to § 24.2-124.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, by October 1, 2026.