SB 408 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Solicitation of contributions; enforcement, creates private right of action.

Summary
Solicitation of contributions; enforcement; private right of action. Creates a private right of action for contributing individuals who were aggrieved by the actions of any charitable or civic organization, commercial co-venturer, professional fund-raising counsel, or professional solicitor that violated any provision of law relating to the solicitation of contributions. The bill provides that such individuals may initiate an action to recover (i) actual damages or $500, whichever is greater; (ii) reasonable costs; and (iii) attorney fees. The bill also allows the trier of fact to increase damages to an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages sustained or $1,000, whichever is greater, if it finds that the violation was willful.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · Feb 13, 2026
MODERATE
This bill transitioned from an introduced version to an engrossed version with significant formatting changes and committee reassignment. The substantive legislative text appears unchanged, but the bill was referred to a different committee (Committee for Courts of Justice instead of Committee on General Laws and Technology) and received Senate amendments dated February 16, 2026. The core provisions regarding enforcement, penalties, and private rights of action remain the same.
Scope change
The bill's substantive scope and applicability remain unchanged. The only scope-related change is the committee referral, which moved from Committee on General Laws and Technology to Committee for Courts of Justice, indicating the bill is now being processed through a different legislative pathway.
TECHNICAL

Bill status changed from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' with Senate amendments dated February 16, 2026

Patron designation changed from 'Stuart' to 'Senator Stuart' with 'Prior to Engrossment' notation

Committee referral changed from 'Committee on General Laws and Technology' to 'Committee for Courts of Justice'

Added formatting elements including page numbers, amendment dates, and bill tracking numbers (SB408E)

Removed introductory formatting elements including 'Introduced' status and original committee referral

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 39
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
16 Yea 3
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
2
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Courts of Justice Amendments agreed to
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice with amendments (9-Y 5-N)
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Richard Stuart
Richard Stuart
RRepublican
VA
25