Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Campaign Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel backs bill to require searchable state campaign finance portal, sends it to appropriations
Summary
The subcommittee advanced HB 2,140 to require the Department of Elections to build a searchable, exportable campaign finance portal similar to VPAP; the governor has proposed $750,000 for planning and the bill carries a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.
The Privileges and Elections Subcommittee advanced HB 2,140 by voice and recorded a unanimous 8-0 vote to send the bill to appropriations for funding consideration.
Delegate Kreesick, sponsor of HB 2,140, described the bill as a state requirement to provide the kind of searchable, exportable campaign finance data currently available from the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP). "It requires the Department of Elections to invest in a comprehensive online campaign finance portal that provides tools for users to access, manipulate, and export data," Kreesick said. The bill sets a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026 to allow time for procurement and system development.
Witnesses in support argued the current state system is outdated and not user-friendly; they said VPAP performs that function now but a state-operated, permanently funded system is more sustainable. Nancy Morgan of Money Out Virginia and Wes Gobar of Clean Virginia urged the committee to adopt the bill, noting that other states provide searchable, downloadable campaign finance data and that Virginia's filings are difficult to analyze in their current formats.
Commissioner Beals of the Department of Elections told the committee the department is already planning a multi-part rebuild of the elections technology stack and that the governor has included $750,000 in the proposed budget to begin planning. Beals said the department will evaluate whether to purchase off-the-shelf software or develop a custom system and that the rebuild covers candidate reports, back-end campaign finance management, and the public reporting system.
Committee members raised timing and procurement questions; supporters and the department acknowledged an RFP or other procurement process would likely be required and that the $750,000 was intended to begin requirements gathering.
The subcommittee recorded an electronic unanimous vote of 8-0 to report HB 2,140 to appropriations for funding consideration.
