An Act to amend and reenact Items 5 and 6 and Enactments 14, 15, and 16 of Chapter 725 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025, which appropriates the public revenues for two years ending, respectively, on June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, and to amend Chapter 725 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025, which appropriates the public revenues for two years ending, respectively, on June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026, by adding an item numbered 78.10 and by adding enactments numbered 17, 18, 19, and 20 which appropriates the public revenues for two years ending, respectively, on June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026; and to provide for the submission to the voters of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Virginia by amending Section 6 of Article II and by adding in the Schedule a section numbered 6; and to repeal § 30-13 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the general appropriation act; Department of Elections.
HB1384 is a budget and appropriations measure that amends Virginia’s 2025 general appropriation act. The bill adjusts funding for the Division of Legislative Automated Services and the Division of Legislative Services, including salary funding, technology operations, and support for replacing a legacy legislative bill tracking system. It also adds funding for software, security, and infrastructure upgrades, and sets aside money for costs associated with the April 21, 2026 special election.
In addition to the appropriations changes, the bill includes provisions tied to the submission of proposed constitutional amendments to Virginia voters. It amends Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia and adds a schedule provision to place those amendments before the electorate, while also repealing § 30-13 of the Code of Virginia. The bill further directs that procurement for the legislative bill tracking system may proceed outside the Virginia Public Procurement Act and related contract review requirements, subject to an implementation plan approved by the Joint Rules Committee.
The bill primarily affects state budget law by revising appropriations for legislative agencies and adding new funding items within the existing biennial budget. It also affects election administration and constitutional amendment procedures by authorizing the submission of proposed constitutional changes to voters and by providing funding for the special election associated with that process. Statutorily, it repeals § 30-13 of the Code of Virginia and creates an exemption from standard state procurement rules for the replacement of the legislative bill tracking system.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 6 and approved on February 6, 2026, indicating clear legislative support. The text suggests the measure was treated as a routine but important budget and election-related vehicle, with emphasis on maintaining legislative technology systems and funding election administration. No committee transcript or recorded votes are provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the supplied materials.
The most notable point of contention embedded in the bill is the exemption from the Virginia Public Procurement Act and related contract review provisions for the bill tracking system replacement. That approach gives the Division of Legislative Automated Services flexibility in selecting a procurement method, but it could raise concerns about oversight, transparency, and competitive bidding. Another possible area of concern is the use of public funds for a special election and for constitutional amendment submission, though the provided materials do not show specific objections from any legislator or stakeholder.