SB368 • 2026

Campaign finance; contribution limits and public campaign financing.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 articles numbered 3.1 and 3.2, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-948.10 and 24.2-948.11, relating to campaign finance; contribution limits and public campaign financing; counties and cities may establish for certain offices.</p>

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Carroll Foy
Last action: 2026-02-10
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status contradicts its metadata; it was enacted according to the metadata but failed to report in Privileges and Elections based on the last action.

Local Campaign Finance Rules

This bill allows counties and cities in Virginia to set rules for campaign contributions and create public funding systems for local elections.

What This Bill Does

Allows county or city governments to make rules about how much money can be given to candidates running for local offices.
Permits these same governments to start a system where the government gives money directly to candidates who agree not to take private donations.
Requires that any public funding system must have clear rules and be managed by the treasurer of the county or city.
Gives the State Board of Elections power to check if local campaign finance systems follow state laws.

Who It Names or Affects

Local government officials who can make these new rules for their areas.
Candidates running for local offices in Virginia counties and cities that choose to use these rules.
People or groups who want to donate money to local election campaigns.

Terms To Know

Contribution limits: Rules about how much money people can give to a candidate's campaign.
Public campaign financing: A system where the government gives money directly to candidates who agree not to take private donations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when these rules would start or how long they will last.
It is unclear which counties and cities might choose to use this new authority.
The State Board of Elections has some oversight, but the exact details are not specified.

Bill History

2026-02-10 Privileges and Elections
Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (7-Y 7-N 1-A)
2026-01-29 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB368)
2026-01-13 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105371D
2026-01-13 Privileges and Elections
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

Official Summary Text

Campaign finance; contribution limits and public campaign financing; counties and cities may establish for certain offices.
Authorizes the governing body of a county or city to establish by ordinance limits on contributions to candidates for elected local offices and a system of public campaign financing for elected local offices. The bill specifies certain requirements for a system of public campaign financing established by a governing body, including the provision of the necessary funding and staff for such system and the provision of a public election fund to be administered by the treasurer of the county or city. A system of public campaign financing established under the provisions of the bill by a county or city is permitted to more stringently regulate the campaign finance activity of participating candidates and shall be subject to regulation and oversight by the State Board of Elections to ensure its conformity with state law and policy to the extent practicable.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 articles numbered 3.1 and 3.2, consisting of sections numbered
24.2-948.10
and
24.2-948.11
, relating to campaign finance;
c
ontribution limits and public campaign financing; counties and cities may establish for certain offices.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 articles numbered 3.1 and 3.2, consisting of sections numbered
24.2-948.10
and
24.2-948.11
, as follows:

Article 3.1.

Contribution Limits.

§
24.2-948.10
. Limits on contributions to candidates for local office.

The governing body of a county or city may establish, by ordinance, limits on contributions to candidates for elected local offices.

Article 3.2.

Public Campaign Financing.

§
24.2-948.11
. System of public campaign financing.

A. Subject to the provisions of this section, the governing body of a county or city may establish, by ordinance, a system of public campaign financing for elected local offices. The ordinance shall specify the sources that may be used to fund such system and the criteria for use in determining whether a candidate is eligible for public campaign financing. The governing body shall provide the funding and staff necessary for the operation, administration, and auditing of such system.

B. A system of public campaign financing established in a county or city pursuant to this section shall:

1. Provide for the participation of candidates in public campaign financing on a strictly voluntary basis. Candidates who do not choose to participate in the system of public campaign financing shall not be regulated pursuant to (i) this section or (ii) any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section.

2. Prohibit the use of public campaign financing for any campaign except a campaign for an elected local office.

3. Require a candidate who accepts public campaign financing to (i) designate a campaign depository solely for the campaign of the elected local office and (ii) use funds from that campaign depository only for the campaign of the elected local office for which it was designated.

4. Prohibit a candidate who accepts public campaign financing from transferring funds (i) to the campaign depository designated for the campaign of the elected local office from any other campaign depository designated for the candidate and (ii) from the campaign depository designated for the campaign of the elected local office to any other campaign depository.

C. The governing body of a county or city that establishes a system of public campaign financing shall provide for a public election fund for elected local offices. Such fund shall be administered by the treasurer of the county or city.

D. A system of public campaign financing established pursuant to this section may provide for more stringent regulation of the campaign finance activity by candidates participating in the system of public campaign financing than provided by this chapter, including regulations regarding contributions, expenditures, and reporting requirements, and may impose civil penalties for violations.

E. Any system of public campaign financing established pursuant to this section shall be subject to regulation and oversight by the State Board to ensure conformity and compliance with state law and policy to the extent practicable
.