SB 1185 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure.

Summary

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-945.1, 24.2-953.1, 24.2-953.2, 24.2-953.3, and 24.2-955.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 4.2, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-949.14 through 24.2-949.24, and by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-953.6, relating to campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure; civil penalties.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Privileges and Elections Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a substitute version that shifts focus from enacting new campaign finance disclosure laws to establishing a work group to study and make policy recommendations about campaign contribution limits and disclosure requirements. The substantive legislation proposing new independent expenditure committee rules was replaced with a study directive.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from enacting new campaign finance regulations to creating a temporary work group to study and recommend policy changes on campaign contribution limits and disclosure practices.

REQUIREMENT

Removed all new campaign finance sections including definitions for independent expenditure committees, filing requirements, reporting schedules, and civil penalty provisions that were in the original version.

Added a work group consisting of 12 members (6 legislative and 6 citizen members) to study campaign contribution limits and disclosure methods used in other states.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2026 to establish a work group with meetings scheduled between August 2025 and August 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific eligibility criteria for the 6 nonlegislative citizen members including requirements for legal expertise, labor union representation, trade organization representation, and specific organizational budget thresholds.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed all civil penalty provisions that would have imposed fines up to four times the contribution amount for violations of the new disclosure requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Rereferred from Privileges and Elections to Rules (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors