SB169
Candidates for office; challenges to candidate qualifications.
Status:
In House
Latest Action:
Feb. 3, 2026
House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
Chief Patron:
Stella Pekarsky (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Elections; candidates for office; challenges to candidate qualifications.
Requires any legal action relating to a person's eligibility to appear on the ballot on the basis that such person did not meet all qualifications or fulfill all requirements for candidacy to be filed in a circuit court and served on all parties (i) at least 90 days before the ... (More) date of a general election; (ii) at least 65 days before the date of a primary election; (iii) at least 70 days before the date of a special election held on the same date as the general election; or (iv) for any special election held at a time other than a general election, (a) at least 55 days before the date of the special election or (b) within 10 days of any writ of election or order calling for a special election to be held less than 60 days after the issuance of the writ or order. The bill specifies that any such legal action will be given precedence on the docket and be decided by the circuit court no later than 10 days before the date on which ballots for that election are made available for absentee voting. The bill also specifies that candidates who are nominated at a primary election cannot be later challenged on the basis of facts that were present prior to the primary election and could have been raised in a challenge to such candidate's eligibility for the primary ballot. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/08/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100612D
- 01/08/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 01/20/2026 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Read first time
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 01/23/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 01/23/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 16-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB169)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/03/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
