SEC Proposes to Modernize the Submission of Certain Forms, Filings, and Materials Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments designed to modernize its information collection and analysis methods by, among other things, proposing that a number of filings be submitted to the Commission electronically on EDGAR using structured data where appropriate. Under current rules, registrants are required to file or otherwise submit many Exchange Act forms, filings, or other submissions in paper form. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many submissions were made in electronic rather than paper form, which was generally well received. As part of its efforts to modernize the methods by which it collects and analyzes information from registrants, the proposed amendments would require registrants to make these submissions to the Commission electronically. “We live in a digital age. In 2023, one might think that all filings to the Commission already could be made electronically.