# Virginia SB126: Primary election; when filings to be made, extension for incumbents failure to file.

Virginia SB126, Primary election; when filings to be made, extension for incumbents failure to file., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (79-Y 19-N 0-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB126-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB126
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Primary election; when filings to be made, extension for incumbents failure to file.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-05
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (79-Y 19-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (261 yes, 89 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Elections; primary election; when filings to be made; extension for incumbents failure to file. Provides that if an incumbent office holder fails to file the necessary paperwork to qualify to be on the ballot for a primary election for the office he holds by the deadline for filing such paperwork, then the deadline for such paperwork is extended by five days for any filer other than the incumbent. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Extra filing time for Virginia challengers: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia gives eligible challengers five extra days to file for covered primaries. The extension applies when the incumbent misses the filing deadline of 5:00 p.m. 75 days before the primary. It also applies when the incumbent files but withdraws before that deadline. Eli…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 23 | 16 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 79 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House | pass | 76 | 23 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 11 | 9 | 1 |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 23 | 17 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 9 | 5 |   |

## Actions (35)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (79-Y 19-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0990) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB126ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 990 (Effective 1/1/2027) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB126) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB126ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed House (76-Y 23-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Reported from Privileges and Elections (11-Y 9-N 1-A) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB126) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Reported from Privileges and Elections (9-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102808D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224967.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224966.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220432.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220431.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219700.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219699.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219696.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198771.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198770.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082937.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082936.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224967.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224966.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220432.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220431.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219700.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219699.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219696.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198771.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198770.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082937.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082936.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB126-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).