# Virginia SB945: Campaign finance; appeal of penalties.

Virginia SB945, Campaign finance; appeal of penalties., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bill DeSteph (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-03-21 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB945-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB945
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Campaign finance; appeal of penalties.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-03-21, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360)
- Sponsor: Bill DeSteph (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (292 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Campaign finance; appeal of penalties. Provides for an appeal process for any person or committee assessed a civil penalty under the Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006. Upon petition, the State Board of Elections may provide relief to the petitioner for good cause shown. Such relief may include forgiveness of all or a portion of an assessed civil penalty, the retroactive extension of a deadline, or other appropriate remedy. For each appeal that it hears, the State Board shall publish a written opinion, which shall include the facts put before the State Board, the State Board's decision, and the State Board's rationale for reaching such decision.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bill DeSteph (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-14 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-28 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2025-03-21: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0360) (Governor)
- 2025-03-21: Approved by Governor-Chapter 360 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB945) (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB945ER) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB945) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-19: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-19: Privileges and Elections Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-19: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-18: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-14: Committee substitute printed 25107400D-H1 (House)
- 2025-02-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-06: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2025-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-31: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Read second time and engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB945) (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103420D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-07-17: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB945)
- Chaptered, 2025-03-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072675.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072674.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052494.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052526.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052493.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052525.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013823.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013822.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB945)
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072675.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072674.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052494.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052526.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052493.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052525.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013823.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013822.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB945-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).