Bill Commons

VA SB 688

dead

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

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

Quick answers

Did VA SB 688 pass?

No. VA SB 688 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process (2026-03-14). Latest recorded action (2026-03-14): Failed to Pass from conference

What is VA SB 688 about?

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.

Who sponsors VA SB 688?

Scott A. Surovell is the primary sponsor of VA SB 688, joined by 2 cosponsors.

Description

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.

Introduced
2026-01-14
Latest action
2026-03-14 — Failed to Pass from conference
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Scott A. Surovellprimary
  • Saddam Azlan Salimcosponsor
  • Jennifer D. Carroll Foycosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-14

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100017D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-14

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-02-03

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)

  4. 2026-02-10

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment (8-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  5. 2026-02-10

    Senate committee offered

  6. 2026-02-12

    Rules suspended

  7. 2026-02-12

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. 2026-02-12

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  9. 2026-02-13

    Read second time

    reading-2

  10. 2026-02-13

    Passed by for the day

  11. 2026-02-16

    Read second time

    reading-2

  12. 2026-02-16

    Privileges and Elections Amendment rejected

    amendment-failure

  13. 2026-02-16

    Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute

  14. 2026-02-16

    Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)

  15. 2026-02-16

    Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-02-16

    Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  18. 2026-02-17

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)

  19. 2026-02-24

    Placed on Calendar

  20. 2026-02-24

    Read first time

    reading-1

  21. 2026-02-24

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  22. 2026-02-27

    Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (19-Y 2-N)

    committee-passage

  23. 2026-03-02

    House committee offered

  24. 2026-03-02

    Committee substitute printed 26108899D-H1

    substitution

  25. 2026-03-03

    Read second time

    reading-2

  26. 2026-03-04

    Read third time

    reading-3

  27. 2026-03-04

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  28. 2026-03-04

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  29. 2026-03-04

    Passed House with substitute (89-Y 10-N 0-A)

    passage

  30. 2026-03-06

    Passed by for the day

  31. 2026-03-09

    House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  32. 2026-03-10

    House insisted on substitute

    substitution

  33. 2026-03-10

    House requested conference committee

    referral-committee

  34. 2026-03-11

    Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  35. 2026-03-11

    Conferees appointed by Senate

  36. 2026-03-11

    Senate Conferees: Mulchi, Surovell, Bennett-Parker

  37. 2026-03-12

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB688)

  38. 2026-03-12

    Conferees appointed by House

  39. 2026-03-12

    House Conferees: Price, Convirs-Fowler, Scott of Spotsylvania

  40. 2026-03-14

    No further action taken

  41. 2026-03-14

    Failed to Pass from conference

  42. 2026-03-14

    Failed to Pass from conference

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Privileges and Elections with amendment

    2026-02-10 · pass · 8-7

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-02-12 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-02-17 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute

    2026-02-27 · pass · 19-2

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Eric Phillips: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-04 · pass · 89-10

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Concur House Substitute R

    2026-03-09 · fail · 0-40

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: no
    • Lamont Bagby: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: no
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: no
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: no
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: no
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: no
    • L. Louise Lucas: no
    • David W. Marsden: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: no
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: no
    • Russet Perry: no
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: no
    • Aaron R. Rouse: no
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: no
    • Kannan Srinivasan: no
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: no
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: no
    • Angelia Williams Graves: no

  • Accede Conference Committee R

    2026-03-11 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB688

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

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