SB 377: Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, complaints, hearings, civil penalty.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds; complaints, hearings, civil penalty, and advisory opinions. Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or his campaign committee to personal use. Current law only prohibits such conversion of contributions with regard to disbursement of surplus funds at the dissolution of a campaign or political committee. The bill provides that a contribution is considered to have been converted to personal use if the contribution, in whole or in part, is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense that would exist irrespective of the person's seeking, holding, or maintaining public office but allows a contribution to be used for the ordinary and accepted expenses related to campaigning for or holding elective office, including the use of campaign funds to pay for the candidate's child care expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. The bill provides that any person subject to the personal use ban may request an advisory opinion from the State Board of Elections on such matters. The bill directs the State Board of Elections to adopt emergency regulations similar to those promulgated by the Federal Election Commission to implement the provisions of the bill and to publish an updated summary of Virginia campaign finance law that reflects the State Board of Elections' and Attorney General's guidance on the provisions of such law that prohibit the personal use of campaign funds and any new regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elections.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. November 18, 2024Left in Appropriations
2. February 28, 2024Continued to 2025 in Appropriations (Voice Vote)
3. February 23, 2024Referred to Committee on Appropriations
4. February 23, 2024Reported from Privileges and Elections (22-Y 0-N)
5. February 23, 2024House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
6. February 22, 2024House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
7. February 13, 2024Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
8. February 13, 2024Read first time
9. February 13, 2024Placed on Calendar
10. February 6, 2024Read third time and passed Senate (35-Y 4-N)
11. February 5, 2024Engrossed by Senate
12. February 5, 2024Committee amendments rejected

Showing 12 most recent of 25 actions. Full history