{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-3103.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-3103.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-3103.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-3103.html"}],"law_id":55677,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55677,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3103","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","history":"1987, Sp. Sess., c. 1, \u00a7 2.1-639.4; 1994, cc. 663, 815, 851; 2001, c. 844; 2006, cc. 787, 892; 2015, c. 574.","full_text":"No officer or employee of a state or local governmental or advisory agency shall:\n\n1\n\nSolicit or accept money or other thing of value for services performed within the scope of his official duties, except the compensation, expenses or other remuneration paid by the agency of which he is an officer or employee. This prohibition shall not apply to the acceptance of special benefits that may be authorized by law;2\n\nOffer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of obtaining employment, appointment, or promotion of any person with any governmental or advisory agency;3\n\nOffer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of the use of his public position to obtain a contract for any person or business with any governmental or advisory agency;4\n\nUse for his own economic benefit or that of another party confidential information that he has acquired by reason of his public position and which is not available to the public;5\n\nAccept any money, loan, gift, favor, service, or business or professional opportunity that reasonably tends to influence him in the performance of his official duties. This subdivision shall not apply to any political contribution actually used for political campaign or constituent service purposes and reported as required by Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2;6\n\nAccept any business or professional opportunity when he knows that there is a reasonable likelihood that the opportunity is being afforded him to influence him in the performance of his official duties;7\n\nAccept any honoraria for any appearance, speech, or article in which the officer or employee provides expertise or opinions related to the performance of his official duties. The term “honoraria” shall not include any payment for or reimbursement to such person for his actual travel, lodging, or subsistence expenses incurred in connection with such appearance, speech, or article or in the alternative a payment of money or anything of value not in excess of the per diem deduction allowable under § 162 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. The prohibition in this subdivision shall apply only to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Governor’s Secretaries, and heads of departments of state government;8\n\nAccept a gift from a person who has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of the officer’s or employee’s official duties under circumstances where the timing and nature of the gift would cause a reasonable person to question the officer’s or employee’s impartiality in the matter affecting the donor. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law penalties;9\n\nAccept gifts from sources on a basis so frequent as to raise an appearance of the use of his public office for private gain. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law penalties; or10\n\nUse his public position to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against any person for expressing views on matters of public concern or for exercising any right that is otherwise protected by law, provided, however, that this subdivision shall not restrict the authority of any public employer to govern conduct of its employees, and to take disciplinary action, in accordance with applicable law, and provided further that this subdivision shall not limit the authority of a constitutional officer to discipline or discharge an employee with or without cause.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204092,"text":"No officer or employee of a state or local governmental or advisory agency shall:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":204093,"text":"Solicit or accept money or other thing of value for services performed within the scope of his official duties, except the compensation, expenses or other remuneration paid by the agency of which he is an officer or employee. This prohibition shall not apply to the acceptance of special benefits that may be authorized by law;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":204094,"text":"Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of obtaining employment, appointment, or promotion of any person with any governmental or advisory agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":204095,"text":"Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of the use of his public position to obtain a contract for any person or business with any governmental or advisory agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":204096,"text":"Use for his own economic benefit or that of another party confidential information that he has acquired by reason of his public position and which is not available to the public;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":204097,"text":"Accept any money, loan, gift, favor, service, or business or professional opportunity that reasonably tends to influence him in the performance of his official duties. This subdivision shall not apply to any political contribution actually used for political campaign or constituent service purposes and reported as required by Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":204098,"text":"Accept any business or professional opportunity when he knows that there is a reasonable likelihood that the opportunity is being afforded him to influence him in the performance of his official duties;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":204099,"text":"Accept any honoraria for any appearance, speech, or article in which the officer or employee provides expertise or opinions related to the performance of his official duties. The term “honoraria” shall not include any payment for or reimbursement to such person for his actual travel, lodging, or subsistence expenses incurred in connection with such appearance, speech, or article or in the alternative a payment of money or anything of value not in excess of the per diem deduction allowable under § 162 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. The prohibition in this subdivision shall apply only to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Governor’s Secretaries, and heads of departments of state government;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":204100,"text":"Accept a gift from a person who has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of the officer’s or employee’s official duties under circumstances where the timing and nature of the gift would cause a reasonable person to question the officer’s or employee’s impartiality in the matter affecting the donor. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law penalties;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":204101,"text":"Accept gifts from sources on a basis so frequent as to raise an appearance of the use of his public office for private gain. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law penalties; or","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":204102,"text":"Use his public position to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against any person for expressing views on matters of public concern or for exercising any right that is otherwise protected by law, provided, however, that this subdivision shall not restrict the authority of any public employer to govern conduct of its employees, and to take disciplinary action, in accordance with applicable law, and provided further that this subdivision shall not limit the authority of a constitutional officer to discipline or discharge an employee with or without cause.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14358,"edition_id":1,"name":"Generally Prohibited and Unlawful Conduct","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14113,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:52","permalink":{"id":176039,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14358,"identifier":"2","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14113,"edition_id":1,"name":"State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act","identifier":"31","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13049,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:54","permalink":{"id":176023,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14113,"identifier":"31","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/31\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13049,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Officers and Employees","identifier":"E","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12784,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:11","permalink":{"id":175733,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13049,"identifier":"E","token":"2.2\/I\/E","url":"\/2.2\/I\/E\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12784,"edition_id":1,"name":"Organization of State Government","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":171455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12784,"identifier":"I","token":"2.2\/I","url":"\/2.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62922,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3102","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/2.2-3102\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3102","metadata":false},{"id":55677,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3103","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","url":"\/2.2-3103\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103","metadata":false},{"id":72564,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3103.1","catch_line":"Certain gifts prohibited","url":"\/2.2-3103.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103.1","metadata":false},{"id":66061,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3103.2","catch_line":"Return of gifts","url":"\/2.2-3103.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103.2","metadata":false},{"id":85544,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3104","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct for certain officers and employees of state government","url":"\/2.2-3104\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3104","metadata":false},{"id":85061,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3104.01","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct; bids or proposals under the Virginia Public Procurement Act, Public-Private Transportation Act, and Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act; loans or grants from the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund","url":"\/2.2-3104.01\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3104.01","metadata":false},{"id":63141,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3104.02","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct for constitutional officers","url":"\/2.2-3104.02\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3104.02","metadata":false},{"id":83384,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3104.1","catch_line":"Exclusion of certain awards from scope of chapter","url":"\/2.2-3104.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3104.1","metadata":false},{"id":60071,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3104.2","catch_line":"Ordinance regulating receipt of gifts","url":"\/2.2-3104.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3104.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":62922,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3102","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/2.2-3102\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3102","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":72564,"structure_id":14358,"section_number":"2.2-3103.1","catch_line":"Certain gifts prohibited","url":"\/2.2-3103.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-3103\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1994, chapters 663<\/a>, 815<\/a>, and 851<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 844<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 787<\/a> and 892<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 574<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85837,"section_number":"19.2-386.33","catch_line":"Forfeiture of money, etc., derived from violation of \u00a7\u00a7 2.2-3103 through 2.2-3112","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.33\/"},{"id":85544,"section_number":"2.2-3104","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct for certain officers and employees of state government","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3104\/"},{"id":63141,"section_number":"2.2-3104.02","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct for constitutional officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3104.02\/"},{"id":86218,"section_number":"2.2-3123","catch_line":"Invalidation of contract; recision of sales","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3123\/"},{"id":72846,"section_number":"2.2-3124","catch_line":"Civil penalty from violation of this chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3124\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82970,"section_number":"24.2-945","catch_line":"Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-945\/"}],"permalink":{"id":176045,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55677,"identifier":"2.2-3103","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103","url":"\/2.2-3103\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-3103\/","token":"2.2\/I\/E\/31\/2\/2.2-3103","dublin_core":{"Title":"Prohibited conduct","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-3103","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> of a state or local governmental or advisory agency<\/span> shall:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Solicit or accept money or other thing of value for services performed within the scope of his official duties, except the compensation, expenses or other remuneration paid by the agency of which he is an officer<\/span> or employee<\/span>. This prohibition shall not apply to the acceptance of special benefits that may be authorized by law<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of obtaining employment, appointment, or promotion of any person with any governmental or advisory agency<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of the use of his public position to obtain a contract<\/span> for any person or business<\/span> with any governmental or advisory agency<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Use for his own economic benefit or that of another party<\/span> confidential information that he has acquired by reason of his public position and which is not available to the public; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Accept any money, loan, gift<\/span>, favor, service, or business<\/span> or professional opportunity that reasonably tends to influence him in the performance of his official duties. This subdivision shall not apply to any political contribution actually used for political campaign or constituent service purposes and reported as required by Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945<\/a> et seq.) of Title 24.2; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Accept any business<\/span> or professional opportunity when he knows that there is a reasonable likelihood that the opportunity is being afforded him to influence him in the performance of his official duties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Accept any honoraria for any appearance<\/span>, speech, or article in which the officer<\/span> or employee<\/span> provides expertise or opinions<\/span> related to the performance of his official duties. The term “honoraria” shall not include any payment for or reimbursement to such person for his actual travel, lodging, or subsistence expenses incurred in connection with such appearance<\/span>, speech, or article or in the alternative a payment of money or anything of value not in excess of the per diem deduction allowable under § 162 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. The prohibition in this subdivision shall apply only to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General<\/span>, Governor’s Secretaries, and heads of departments of state government; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Accept a gift<\/span> from a person who has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance of the officer<\/span>’s or employee<\/span>’s official duties under circumstances where the timing and nature of the gift<\/span> would cause a reasonable person to question the officer<\/span>’s or employee<\/span>’s impartiality in the matter affecting the donor. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law<\/span> penalties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Accept gifts<\/span> from sources on a basis so frequent as to raise an appearance<\/span> of the use of his public office for private gain. Violations of this subdivision shall not be subject to criminal law<\/span> penalties; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Use his public position to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against any person for expressing views on matters of public concern or for exercising any right that is otherwise protected by law<\/span>, provided, however, that this subdivision shall not restrict the authority of any public employer to govern conduct of its employees<\/span>, and to take disciplinary action, in accordance with applicable law<\/span>, and provided further that this subdivision shall not limit the authority of a constitutional officer<\/span> to discipline or discharge an employee<\/span> with or without cause. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROHIBITED CONDUCT (\u00a7 2.2-3103)\n\nNo officer or employee of a state or local governmental or advisory agency\nshall:\n\n1. Solicit or accept money or other thing of value for services performed within\nthe scope of his official duties, except the compensation, expenses or other\nremuneration paid by the agency of which he is an officer or employee. This\nprohibition shall not apply to the acceptance of special benefits that may be\nauthorized by law;\n\n2. Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of\nobtaining employment, appointment, or promotion of any person with any\ngovernmental or advisory agency;\n\n3. Offer or accept any money or other thing of value for or in consideration of\nthe use of his public position to obtain a contract for any person or business\nwith any governmental or advisory agency;\n\n4. Use for his own economic benefit or that of another party confidential\ninformation that he has acquired by reason of his public position and which is\nnot available to the public;\n\n5. Accept any money, loan, gift, favor, service, or business or professional\nopportunity that reasonably tends to influence him in the performance of his\nofficial duties. This subdivision shall not apply to any political contribution\nactually used for political campaign or constituent service purposes and\nreported as required by Chapter 9.3 (§ 24.2-945 et seq.) of Title 24.2;\n\n6. Accept any business or professional opportunity when he knows that there is a\nreasonable likelihood that the opportunity is being afforded him to influence\nhim in the performance of his official duties;\n\n7. Accept any honoraria for any appearance, speech, or article in which the\nofficer or employee provides expertise or opinions related to the performance of\nhis official duties. The term “honoraria” shall not include any\npayment for or reimbursement to such person for his actual travel, lodging, or\nsubsistence expenses incurred in connection with such appearance, speech, or\narticle or in the alternative a payment of money or anything of value not in\nexcess of the per diem deduction allowable under § 162 of the Internal\nRevenue Code, as amended from time to time. The prohibition in this subdivision\nshall apply only to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General,\nGovernor’s Secretaries, and heads of departments of state government;\n\n8. Accept a gift from a person who has interests that may be substantially\naffected by the performance of the officer’s or employee’s official\nduties under circumstances where the timing and nature of the gift would cause a\nreasonable person to question the officer’s or employee’s\nimpartiality in the matter affecting the donor. Violations of this subdivision\nshall not be subject to criminal law penalties;\n\n9. Accept gifts from sources on a basis so frequent as to raise an appearance of\nthe use of his public office for private gain. Violations of this subdivision\nshall not be subject to criminal law penalties; or\n\n10. Use his public position to retaliate or threaten to retaliate against any\nperson for expressing views on matters of public concern or for exercising any\nright that is otherwise protected by law, provided, however, that this\nsubdivision shall not restrict the authority of any public employer to govern\nconduct of its employees, and to take disciplinary action, in accordance with\napplicable law, and provided further that this subdivision shall not limit the\nauthority of a constitutional officer to discipline or discharge an employee\nwith or without cause.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, Sp. Sess., c. 1, \u00a7 2.1-639.4; 1994, cc. 663, 815, 851; 2001, c.\n844; 2006, cc. 787, 892; 2015, c. 574.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}