# Virginia SJ255: Virginia's campaign finance laws; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study.

Virginia SJ255, Virginia's campaign finance laws; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-17 (Passed by indefinitely in Rules (18-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ255-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SJ255
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Virginia's campaign finance laws; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-06
- Last action: 2025-02-17, Passed by indefinitely in Rules (18-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Rules
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (56 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Study; JLARC; Virginia's campaign finance laws; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study Virginia's campaign finance laws. In its study, JLARC is directed to (i) identify any legal, technical, and staffing shortcomings in the current election and campaign finance laws relating to (a) reporting and investigating violations, (b) enforcing legal and regulatory requirements, and (c) implementing directions from state government at the local level and (ii) determine whether current budgetary allocations are sufficient to effectively carry out such aspects of the campaign finance system. To that end, JLARC is directed to analyze how existing campaign finance and election laws can be modernized to increase transparency and accountability using best practices from other jurisdictions across the United States and to produce a report of clear recommendations and best practices for improving the current system.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-17 | House | Passed by indefinitely in Rules | pass | 18 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Reading waived Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | Reported from Rules with substitute (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2025-02-17: Passed by indefinitely in Rules (18-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Rules (House)
- 2025-02-05: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-29: Agreed to by Senate by voice vote (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Read third time (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Committee substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Reading waived Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Committee substitute printed 25105939D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: Reported from Rules with substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate)
- 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25104597D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-01-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028773.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028772.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014683.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014682.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.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028773.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1028772.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014683.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014682.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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- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ255-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).