VirginiaSB5302026 Regular SessionSenate

Conflict of Interests Act, State/Local Gov't.; electronic discl. by local govt officers & employees.

Sponsored By: Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; electronic disclosure by local government officers and employees. Requires local government officers and employees to file annual disclosure statements electronically with the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council in accordance with approved standards. Such officers and employees shall be able to file the annual disclosure statement electronically beginning January 1, 2027, but such electronic filing shall be required (i) for localities with populations in excess of 250,000, beginning January 1, 2028; (ii) for localities with populations in excess of 100,000 but not more than 250,000, beginning January 1, 2029; and (iii) for localities with populations not exceeding 100,000, beginning January 1, 2030. The bill provides that the Department of Elections shall be responsible for coordinating the electronic filing by candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, the Senate, or the House of Delegates, and the general registrars shall be responsible for coordinating the electronic filing by candidates for constitutional offices, local governing bodies, and elected school boards.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Public access to filings with privacy guards

The Council must post required forms at least 30 days before the deadline. Clerks must share the forms and set up electronic filing at least 20 days before the deadline. Filed forms are public records for five years and must be made public no later than six weeks after the deadline. The Council runs a searchable online database of disclosure filings on its website. When forms are released to the public, clerks must black out a filer’s home address, personal phone, email, and signature. Some real estate disclosure forms required by law keep the home address visible.

More local officials must file yearly disclosures

Local officials must file personal interest forms when they take office and every year by February 1. This covers county and city governing bodies and school boards, towns over 3,500 people, and IDA/EDA directors and members. It also covers members of authorities that can issue bonds or spend over $10,000 a year, and Northern Virginia transportation bodies. People in positions of trust or jobs named by a local ordinance or school board policy, and designated volunteer members, must also file. Planning commissioners, zoning board members, real estate assessors, and all county, city, and town managers must file annual disclosures of all real estate they own in their jurisdiction, by February 1. Agencies cannot require extra disclosure forms beyond what this law says.

Stronger conflict disclosures during meetings

If you are disqualified from a matter because of a personal interest, you must disclose it right away. You must state the business name and address and the property address or parcel number, if real estate is involved. If you are allowed to participate under the law, you must declare the transaction and your interest on the record or in a signed statement. If a party is a client of your firm, you must also say you do not personally serve that client and can act fairly. If there was no time before the meeting, file the declaration by the end of the next business day and say it aloud at each meeting on that matter. The agency keeps these records public for five years.

Candidates must file economic interests online

Candidates for statewide office, the General Assembly, constitutional offices, and local governing body and elected school board seats must file their economic interest statement online. The state Department handles online filing for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and General Assembly candidates. Local registrars handle filing for constitutional officers, local governing bodies, and school boards. In counties, cities, and towns over 3,500 people, local candidates must file a disclosure as part of their candidacy. Incumbents running for the same office do not file the candidate form if they already filed their required annual statement. Right after the deadline, the registrar or clerk must send the local electoral board a list of candidates who filed.

Ethics Council sets forms, e-filing, advice

The Council creates the only approved disclosure forms and gives instructions to help you file. All disclosures and lobbyist filings with the Council must be filed electronically. The Council provides free software or online access and allows electronic signatures, and it can grant extensions. The Council checks filings for completeness and sends confidential notices to fix problems. It issues formal public opinions and confidential informal advice (which can become public if you claim immunity). The Council also runs trainings, orientations, and publishes education materials.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kannan Srinivasan

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 277 • No: 22

Senate vote 3/9/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 3/5/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 82 • No: 15

House vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 19 • No: 3

House vote 2/26/2026

Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 19 • No: 2

House vote 2/24/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 8 • No: 2 • Other: 1

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

General Laws and Technology Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/4/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0504)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 504 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB530)

    3/16/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB530ER)

    3/13/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/13/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate

    3/9/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with substitute (82-Y 15-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026House
  12. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    3/5/2026House
  13. committee substitute agreed to

    3/5/2026House
  14. Read third time

    3/5/2026House
  15. Read second time

    3/4/2026House
  16. Reported from Appropriations (19-Y 3-N)

    3/2/2026House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB530)

    3/2/2026Senate
  18. Committee substitute printed 26108357D-H1

    2/27/2026House
  19. Assigned HAPP sub: General Government and Capital Outlay

    2/27/2026House
  20. Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (19-Y 2-N)

    2/26/2026House
  21. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N)

    2/24/2026House
  22. House subcommittee offered

    2/24/2026House
  23. Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government

    2/23/2026House
  24. Referred to Committee on General Laws

    2/19/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/19/2026House

Bill Text

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