Campaign Finance Working Group

Who We Are.

Volunteer advocates in this working group are dedicated to getting big money out of politics, especially here in the Commonwealth. As only one of only five states with no limits on campaign contributions, Virginia has earned the reputation as a "pay-to-play" state where the influence of special interests has historically held sway over our public policies more than voters' priorities. In addition, Virginia ranks 46 out of 50 in the Coalition for Integrity's S.W.A.M.P. Index, which ranks states based on transparency and accountability to voters. We're working to change that through advocating for common sense campaign finance legislation, such as campaign limits, improved disclosure, restrictions on personal use of campaign funds, public financing of elections and ethics reform.

We also work on the national level to promote an amendment to the U.S. Constitution allowing Congress and the states to regulate election spending. This action is needed to permanently reverse the damaging effects of forty years of Supreme Court rulings, including the 2010 Citizens United v. the FEC ruling, that equated money with free speech and that unleashed a torrent of money into our country's elections.

What We Do.

Legislative Priorities. We work closely with legislators to formulate our legislative priorities, drawing on national best practices and building on the analysis that we have outlined in our Citizen's Report on the Need for Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform in Virginia (Sept 2022).
Meetings with Legislators. Prior to the GA session, we, in collaboration with like-minded partner organizations, meet (mostly via Zoom) and discuss our positions with Virginia legislators interested in sponsoring campaign finance legislation, including those on committees that have jurisdiction over this legislation.
Legislative advocacy on Bills During the General Assembly. During the session, we formulate easy, "one-click Calls to Action" for our membership and other political activists. Through these Calls to Action, our members send emails to legislators prior to a committee vote on our priority bills.
Democracy Day in Richmond. On January 23, 2024 in partnership with other groups working in the "good governance" and democracy space, we will hold a second "Democracy Day" and collectively lobby legislators.
Testify at GA Committee Hearings. We testify, in person or by video conferencing, before Committees on our key bills. Testimony is short (1-2 minutes) and easy to do.
Group Meetings. We have meetings two to four times a month to learn from technical specialists as well as individuals working on similar issues in other states, and to coordinate with members on recent developments and upcoming actions.
What YOU Can Do. Join the BMOVA group and be an advocate for our bills. As a volunteer, you can email legislators to support bills during session, meet with legislators, participate in Democracy Day, or amplify our message on social media. You choose how you'd like to be involved.


2023 Priority Legislation

2023 Priority Bills

Campaign finance

Cat Number Title House Senate GA /Gov updated
Support campaign finance SB 1427 Campaign finance; political action committees; certain large pre-election expenditures. more...
Requires in-state political action committees to file a report for any single expenditure of $1,000 or more made between October 1 and the date of the November general election. ...
Passed Passed Signed 8/31/23
Support campaign finance SB 854 Campaign advertisements; independent expenditures; disclaimer requirements. more...
Broadens the scope of disclaimer requirements for campaign advertisements to include electioneering communications, as defined in the bill, and messages advocating for the passage or defeat of a referendum. ...
PBI Passed 2/15/23
Support campaign finance SB 1053 Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates more...
Prohibits candidates, campaign committees, and political committees from soliciting or accepting contributions from any public utility, as defined in the bill, and prohibits any public utility or any political committee established by such public utility from making any such contribution.
PBI Passed 2/15/23
Support campaign finance SB 803 Campaign finance; campaign contribution limits; civil penalty. more...
Prohibits persons from making any single contribution, or any combination of contributions, that exceeds $20,000 to any one candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, or the General Assembly in any one election cycle. ...
PBI 1/18/23
Support campaign finance SB 804 Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates more...
Prohibits candidates, campaign committees, and political committees from soliciting or accepting contributions from any public utility, as defined in the bill, and prohibits any public utility or any political committee established by such public utility from making any such contribution.
PBI 1/18/23
Support campaign finance HB 1552 Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, complaints, hearings, civil penalty. more...
Restricts personal use of campaign contributions.
Tabled 2/1/23
Support campaign finance HB 1648 Contributions; prohibited from foreign-influenced corporations, required reports. more...
Caps campaign finance donations/prohibits contributions from foreign-owned corporations.
Left 2/15/23
Support campaign finance HR 242 Elections; political independence of Virginians necessitates state control over election spending. more...
Resolution supports a U.S. Constitutional amendment allowing Congress and the states to regulate election spending.
Left 2/8/23
Support campaign finance HB 2281 Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; powers and duties; complaints; penalties. more...
Authorizes the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to investigate alleged violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act (the Acts). ...
Left 2/8/23
Support campaign finance SB 946 Campaign finance; fundraising during special sessions prohibited. more...
Prohibits campaign fundraising on any day the General Assembly is scheduled to meet during a special session. Currently, campaign fundraising is prohibited only during regular sessions of the General Assembly.
Left 2/8/23
Support campaign finance HB 1551 1551 Campaign advertisements; independent expenditures, electioneering communications, disclaimer. more...
Broadens the scope of disclaimer requirements for campaign advertisements to include electioneering communications, as defined in the bill, and messages advocating for the passage or defeat of a referendum.
Tabled 2/1/23
Support campaign finance HB 2286 Elections; campaign finance; contribution limits; civil penalty. more...
Establishes contribution limits from any individual to any candidate campaign committee, political action committee, and political party committee and from any political action committee or political party committee to any campaign committee. ...
Tabled 2/1/23
Support campaign finance HB 1826 Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds, complaints, hearings, civil penalty. more...
Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or his campaign committee for 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. ...
Tabled 2/1/23
Support campaign finance SB 1471 Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds; complaints, hearings, civil penalty. more...
Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or his campaign committee for 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. ...
Tabled Passed 2/15/23
No. of bills: 14
KEY +
Click on bill no. for full summary. Click on Patron name for additional patrons (sponsors).
Signed Signed by Governor.
Enrolled Sent to the Governor, but not yet signed.
Passed Passed House or Senate.
Comm In Committee. Hover to see committee name. Click to see members.
Read1/2/3 Read in chamber.
Reported Approved by Comm.
Recommends Recommended by Subcommittee.
Left Left in committee.
Incorp Incorporated into another bill.
PBI. Passed by Indefinitely.
Stricken Bill withdrawn.
  Defeated.