This bill:

• defines a term;
• requires the device used to electronically gather signatures for an initiative petition, a referendum petition, or a candidate nomination petition (collectively, "petition") to be capable of scanning and extracting certain data from a driver license, state identification card, or another form of valid voter identification;
• beginning on January 1, 2028, requires the device described above to be capable of operating in an offline environment;
• beginning on January 1, 2028, requires at least 10% of the signatures certified for a petition to be gathered using the electronic signature gathering process;
• beginning on January 1, 2030, requires at least 50% of the signatures certified for a petition to be gathered using the electronic signature gathering process;
• authorizes the lieutenant governor to suspend the 10% electronic signature requirement if the electronic signature gathering system is not functioning in a manner that reasonably permits compliance;
• beginning on January 1, 2032:
  • requires the sponsors of an initiative or referendum petition, or an individual who circulates a candidate nomination petition, to gather signatures using the electronic signature gathering process; and
  • prohibits a person described above from gathering signatures manually;
• clarifies electronic signature-gathering security requirements by distinguishing between baseline device security configuration standards and ongoing cyber-security procedures governing system operation, monitoring, and maintenance, as established by the lieutenant governor;
• requires the lieutenant governor to submit an annual report to the Government Operations Interim Committee, beginning no later than October 1, 2026, and continuing no later than October 1 of each year through 2031;
• adds a January 1, 2032 repeal date for sections related to manual signature gathering;
• includes a coordination clause to standardize a defined term in this bill with the same term in H.B. 32, Signature Gathering and Verification Amendments; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.