SB 688 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Campaign finance; establishes campaign contribution limits, contingency, effective clause.

Summary
Campaign finance; campaign contribution and expenditure limits; contingency. Establishes campaign contribution and expenditure limits for all persons and committees in the Commonwealth. The effectiveness of the provisions of the bill is contingent on certification by the Attorney General to the Code Commission that any such provision is reasonably probable to be upheld as constitutional due to (i) an opinion by the Supreme Court; (ii) The adoption of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution; or (iii) any other reason, to be specified in the certification. The bill also states that in the opinion of the General Assembly, the Supreme Court's decisions in Citizens United v. FEC, 558 US. 310 (2010), McCutcheon v FEC, 572 U.S. 185 (2014), and other related campaign finance cases were wrongly decided, that such decisions undermine the integrity of Virginia's democratic process by preventing reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, and that contribution and expenditure limits will enhance public trust in Virginia's electoral system, facilitate greater transparency, and ensure that elected officials remain accountable to all Virginians. The provisions of the bill establishing expenditure limits for candidates do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.
Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senator Surovell Substitute Privileges and Elections Substitute · 9 edits
MAJOR
The bill was transformed from a state law establishing strict campaign finance contribution and expenditure limits into a symbolic resolution urging the U.S. Congress to take action on campaign finance reform. The original version would have prohibited business entity contributions, capped individual contributions at $2,500 annually, and set strict spending limits for candidates at various office levels. The new version removes all substantive campaign finance regulations and instead serves as a statement of legislative intent.
Scope change
Changed from a binding state law regulating campaign finance to a non-binding resolution expressing the General Assembly's position on federal campaign finance reform
REQUIREMENT

Removed all campaign contribution and expenditure limits that would have applied to candidates and committees

Removed prohibition on contributions or expenditures by business entities

Removed annual contribution limits of $2,500 per person or committee

Removed candidate spending caps ranging from $175,000 to $7 million depending on office

Removed provision requiring 2027 reenactment for candidate expenditure limits to take effect

TIMELINE

Removed automatic indexing of limits based on Consumer Price Index starting December 1, 2026

SCOPE

Added language directing Clerk of Senate to transmit copy to federal officials and Virginia Congressional Delegation

Changed bill purpose from amending Virginia Code to urging United States Congress to take action

ELIGIBILITY

Removed all eligibility criteria and restrictions that applied to political committees and candidates

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 12, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
41
Key actions
9
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
House requested conference committee
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (89-Y 10-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
House committee offered
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (19-Y 2-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 16, 2026
Amended
Privileges and Elections Amendment rejected
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (8-Y 7-N)
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors