SB688
Campaign finance; establishes campaign contribution limits, contingency, effective clause.
Status:
In Conference
Latest Action:
March 12, 2026
House: House Conferees: Price, Convirs-Fowler, Scott of Spotsylvania
Chief Patron:
Scott Surovell (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/14/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100017D
- 01/14/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (8-Y 7-N)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Privileges and Elections Amendment rejected
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/17/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/17/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)
- 02/24/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/24/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/24/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/25/2026 - House: Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda
- 02/27/2026 - House: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (19-Y 2-N)
- 03/02/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 03/02/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26108899D-H1
- 03/03/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/04/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/04/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 03/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 03/04/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (89-Y 10-N 0-A)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 03/10/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Mulchi, Surovell, Bennett-Parker
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Price, Convirs-Fowler, Scott of Spotsylvania
