SENATE BILL NO. 688

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Privileges and Elections

on February 27, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Surovell)

A BILL to urge the United States Congress to take action relating to campaign finance contribution and expenditure limits.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the Clerk of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this act to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia on the need to take action with regard to campaign finance regulation. Specifically, that the General Assembly finds that:

1. The United States 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 are wrongly decided;

2. The integrity of Virginia's democratic process depends upon the active participation of the public and upon public confidence in its elected officials and candidates for public office;

3. Citizens United v. FEC and McCutcheon v. FEC undermine the integrity of Virginia's democratic process by preventing reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, which enables wealthy special interests to monopolize the political discourse at the expense of the public, allows actual or perceived opportunities for corruption and undue influence, and creates the appearance that elected officials are beholden to wealthy donors rather than to the citizens they represent;

4. Reasonable limits on campaign contributions and expenditures coupled with robust anti-coordination policies serve compelling state interests in preventing corruption and the appearance of corruption, promoting electoral integrity, and ensuring that all citizens have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the political process regardless of their economic resources;

5. The limits set forth in the first enactment of Senate Bill 688 as introduced during the 2026 Session of the General Assembly are narrowly tailored to achieve these compelling interests while preserving robust political speech and association; and

6. Establishing 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.