1) RESTRICTING PERSONAL USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS

Patrons: Sen. Boysko (SB1002), Del. Cole (HB2165), Del. Convirs-Fowler (HB1686): Restricts the use of campaign contributions for personal use, details the permissible personal use of campaign funds while developing a system of reporting and an investigative process which protects candidates from frivolous complaints.

2) STRENGTHENING CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE

Disclosure of Independent Expenditures

• Patrons: Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (SB1185), Del. Nadarius Clark (HB2173), Del Henson (HB2484). Increases the disclosure reporting requirements for independent expenditures, establishes a definition of coordination to prevent independent expenders from indirectly funding advertisements in support of or opposing candidates.

•  Patron: Sen.  William Stanley (SB906).   Increases the disclosure requirements for independent expenditures, requires that any advertisement that is an independent expenditure or expressly advocates for the passage or defeat of a referendum contain a disclaimer providing the names of all sponsoring organizations as well as the top three individual contributors.

Disclosure of “Synthetic” Media in Political Campaigns. Patron: Sen. Scott Surovell (SB 775), Del Mark Sickles (HB2478). These different bills require a disclaimer stating that the media “does not represent a true recording of the candidate” to accompany any artificially generated content meant to influence an election.

3) CAMPAIGN FINANCE INFORMATION PORTAL

Patron: Del. Paul Krizek (HB2140). Requires the Department of Elections to invest in a comprehensive on-line campaign finance portal which provides tools for users to access, manipulate and export data, including an easy system for searching and sorting campaign finance information.

4) PUBLIC FINANCING OF LOCAL ELECTIONS  

Patron: Del. Marcus Simon (HB1761) Allows the governing bodies of a county or city to establish, by ordinance, a system of public campaign finance for elected local offices. These ordinances shall specify the criteria for use in determining whether a candidate is eligible for this financing.

5) LIMITS

• Patron: Sen. Danica Roen (SB 1050). Prohibits any corporation from making any contribution to any committee organized under the provisions of the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006 and prohibits any such committee from soliciting or accepting any contribution from any corporation.

• ·Patron: Del. Lee Ware (HB2607). No candidate, campaign committee, or political committee shall solicit or accept a contribution from any public utility, nor shall a public utility or political committee established by such public utility make any such contribution.

6) JLARC STUDY TO REVIEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM

Patron: Sen. Aaron Rouse (SJR255), Del.  Michael Jones (HJR444).  Directs the JLAR Commission to review the structure of the existing regulatory system for campaign finance reporting and mechanisms for ensuring oversight.  This includes identifying gaps in reporting and investigating allegations of violations in disclosure requirements, enforcement requirements, and obstacles limiting enforcement of existing laws, both at a state and local level.

Restricting Personal Use of Campaign Contributions

Del. Marcus Simon HB 40; Del. Mike Cherry HB 629; Sen. Jennifer Boysko SB 377

Virginia is one of only two states which has no restrictions on personal use of campaign funds. These bills prohibit the use of campaign contributions for personal use, detail the permissible personal use of campaign funds while developing a system of reporting and an investigative process which protects candidates from frivolous complaints.

Limits on Campaign Contributions

Del David Bulova HB 874 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 and $10,000 for any Delegate.

Sen. David Suetterlein SB 107

Prohibits fund raising during a special session as is the case during regular sessions.

The Virginia Integrity Bill

Del. Irene Shin HB 911

The bill strengthens Virginia’s commitment to ethical government by providing the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council (Council) with authority to meaningfully evaluate compliance with the Virginia General Assembly Conflicts of Interest Act.