The People's Ledger
← All Virginia bills

SB688Introduced in the Senate

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

Engrossed

Introduced by Scott Surovell, District 34

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official 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.

Where it stands

Failed to Pass from conference

March 14, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

40

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

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

  2. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

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

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

  5. Senate committee offered

  6. Rules suspended

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

  8. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  9. Read second time

  10. Passed by for the day

  11. Read second time

  12. Privileges and Elections Amendment rejected

  13. Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute

  14. Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)

  15. Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  16. Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)

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

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

  19. Placed on Calendar

  20. Read first time

  21. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

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

  23. House committee offered

  24. Committee substitute printed 26108899D-H1

  25. Read second time

  26. Read third time

  27. committee substitute agreed to

  28. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

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

  30. Passed by for the day

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

  32. House insisted on substitute

  33. House requested conference committee

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

  35. Conferees appointed by Senate

  36. Senate Conferees: Mulchi, Surovell, Bennett-Parker

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

  38. Conferees appointed by House

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

  40. No further action taken

  41. Failed to Pass from conference

  42. Failed to Pass from conference

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.