{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/24.2-945.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/24.2-945.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/24.2-945.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/24.2-945.1.html"}],"law_id":77421,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77421,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945.1","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-255; 1975, c. 515, \u00a7 24.1-254.1; 1981, c. 425, \u00a7 24.1-254.2; 1983, c. 119; 1988, c. 616; 1991, cc. 9, 474, 709, \u00a7 24.1-254.3; 1993, cc. 641, 776, 921, \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-901, 24.2-902; 1994, c. 510; 1996, cc. 405, 1042; 2004, c. 457; 2006, cc. 771, 772, 787, 805, 892, 938; 2007, cc. 246, 831; 2008, cc. 152, 289.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Authorization” means express approval or express consent by the candidate, the candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee after coordination.\n\t\t\t“Campaign committee” means the committee designated by a candidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on his behalf in connection with his nomination or election.\n\t\t\t“Candidate” means “candidate” as defined in § 24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Contribution” means money and services of any amount, in-kind contributions, and any other thing of value, given, advanced, loaned, or in any other way provided to a candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or to an inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General. “Contribution” includes money, services, or things of value in any way provided by a candidate to his own campaign and the payment by the candidate of a filing fee for any party nomination method.\n\t\t\t“Coordinated” or “coordination” refers to an expenditure that is made (i) at the express request or suggestion of a candidate, a candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee or (ii) with material involvement of the candidate, a candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee in devising the strategy, content, means of dissemination, or timing of the expenditure.\n\t\t\t“Designated contribution” means a contribution that is designated specifically and in writing for a particular candidate or candidates and that is made using a political committee solely as a conduit.\n\t\t\t“Expenditure” means money and services of any amount, and any other thing of value, paid, loaned, provided, or in any other way disbursed by any candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or by any inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General.\n\t\t\t“Federal political action committee” means any political action committee registered with the Federal Election Commission that makes contributions to candidates or political committees registered in Virginia.\n\t\t\t“Inaugural committee” means any organization, person, or group of persons that anticipates receiving contributions or making expenditures, from other than publicly appropriated funds, for the inauguration of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General and related activities.\n\t\t\t“Independent expenditure” means an expenditure made by any person, candidate campaign committee, or political committee that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated with, or made with the authorization of a candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee. “Independent expenditure” includes an expenditure made by a candidate campaign committee (i) that is not related to the candidate’s own campaign and (ii) that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated with, or made with the authorization of a different candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of that candidate or his campaign committee.\n\t\t\t“In-kind contribution” means the donation of goods, services, property, or other thing of value, other than money, including an expenditure controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon the authorization of a candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee, that is provided for free or less than the usual and normal charge. The basis for arriving at the dollar value of an in-kind contribution is as follows: new items are valued at retail value; used items are valued at fair market value; and services rendered are valued at the actual cost of service per hour. Services shall not be deemed to include personal services voluntarily rendered for which no compensation is asked or given.\n\t\t\t“Out-of-state political committee” means an entity covered by § 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is not registered as a political committee or candidate campaign committee in Virginia and that does not have as its primary purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a federal political action committee.\n\t\t\t“Person” means any individual or corporation, partnership, business, labor organization, membership organization, association, cooperative, or other like entity.\n\t\t\t“Political action committee” means any organization, person, or group of persons, established or maintained to receive and expend contributions for the primary purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a campaign committee, federal political action committee, out-of-state political committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee.\n\t\t\t“Political committee” means and includes any political action committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee. The term shall not include: (i) a federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee; (ii) a campaign committee; (iii) a political party committee exempted pursuant to § 24.2-950.1; or (iv) a person who receives no contributions from any source and whose only expenditures are made solely from his own funds and are either contributions made by him which are reportable by the recipient pursuant to this chapter or independent expenditures which are reportable by him to the extent required by § 24.2-945.2, or a combination of such reportable contributions and independent expenditures.\n\t\t\t“Political party committee” means any state political party committee, congressional district political party committee, county or city political party committee, other election district political party committee, or organized political party group of elected officials. This definition is subject to the provisions of § 24.2-950.1.\n\t\t\t“Primary purpose” means that 50% or more of the committee’s expenditures made in the form of contributions shall be made to candidate campaign committees or political committees registered in Virginia. Administrative expenditures and the transfer of funds between affiliated or connected organizations shall not be considered in determining the committee’s primary purpose. The primary purpose of the committee shall not be determined on the basis of only one report or election cycle, but over the entirety of the committee’s registration.\n\t\t\t“Referendum committee” means any organization, person, group of persons, or committee, that makes expenditures in a calendar year in excess of (i) $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum, (ii) $5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or more counties and cities, or (iii) $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum held in a single county or city.\n\t\t\t“Residence” means “residence” or “resident” as defined in § 24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Statewide office” means the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General.B\n\nFor the purpose of applying the filing and reporting requirements of this chapter, the terms “person” and “political committee,” shall not include an organization holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code which, in providing information to voters, does not advocate or endorse the election or defeat of a particular candidate, group of candidates, or the candidates of a particular political party.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":277705,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Authorization” means express approval or express consent by the candidate, the candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee after coordination.\n\t\t\t“Campaign committee” means the committee designated by a candidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on his behalf in connection with his nomination or election.\n\t\t\t“Candidate” means “candidate” as defined in § 24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Contribution” means money and services of any amount, in-kind contributions, and any other thing of value, given, advanced, loaned, or in any other way provided to a candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or to an inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General. “Contribution” includes money, services, or things of value in any way provided by a candidate to his own campaign and the payment by the candidate of a filing fee for any party nomination method.\n\t\t\t“Coordinated” or “coordination” refers to an expenditure that is made (i) at the express request or suggestion of a candidate, a candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee or (ii) with material involvement of the candidate, a candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee in devising the strategy, content, means of dissemination, or timing of the expenditure.\n\t\t\t“Designated contribution” means a contribution that is designated specifically and in writing for a particular candidate or candidates and that is made using a political committee solely as a conduit.\n\t\t\t“Expenditure” means money and services of any amount, and any other thing of value, paid, loaned, provided, or in any other way disbursed by any candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or by any inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General.\n\t\t\t“Federal political action committee” means any political action committee registered with the Federal Election Commission that makes contributions to candidates or political committees registered in Virginia.\n\t\t\t“Inaugural committee” means any organization, person, or group of persons that anticipates receiving contributions or making expenditures, from other than publicly appropriated funds, for the inauguration of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General and related activities.\n\t\t\t“Independent expenditure” means an expenditure made by any person, candidate campaign committee, or political committee that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated with, or made with the authorization of a candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee. “Independent expenditure” includes an expenditure made by a candidate campaign committee (i) that is not related to the candidate’s own campaign and (ii) that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated with, or made with the authorization of a different candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of that candidate or his campaign committee.\n\t\t\t“In-kind contribution” means the donation of goods, services, property, or other thing of value, other than money, including an expenditure controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon the authorization of a candidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee, that is provided for free or less than the usual and normal charge. The basis for arriving at the dollar value of an in-kind contribution is as follows: new items are valued at retail value; used items are valued at fair market value; and services rendered are valued at the actual cost of service per hour. Services shall not be deemed to include personal services voluntarily rendered for which no compensation is asked or given.\n\t\t\t“Out-of-state political committee” means an entity covered by § 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is not registered as a political committee or candidate campaign committee in Virginia and that does not have as its primary purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a federal political action committee.\n\t\t\t“Person” means any individual or corporation, partnership, business, labor organization, membership organization, association, cooperative, or other like entity.\n\t\t\t“Political action committee” means any organization, person, or group of persons, established or maintained to receive and expend contributions for the primary purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a campaign committee, federal political action committee, out-of-state political committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee.\n\t\t\t“Political committee” means and includes any political action committee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee. The term shall not include: (i) a federal political action committee or out-of-state political committee; (ii) a campaign committee; (iii) a political party committee exempted pursuant to § 24.2-950.1; or (iv) a person who receives no contributions from any source and whose only expenditures are made solely from his own funds and are either contributions made by him which are reportable by the recipient pursuant to this chapter or independent expenditures which are reportable by him to the extent required by § 24.2-945.2, or a combination of such reportable contributions and independent expenditures.\n\t\t\t“Political party committee” means any state political party committee, congressional district political party committee, county or city political party committee, other election district political party committee, or organized political party group of elected officials. This definition is subject to the provisions of § 24.2-950.1.\n\t\t\t“Primary purpose” means that 50% or more of the committee’s expenditures made in the form of contributions shall be made to candidate campaign committees or political committees registered in Virginia. Administrative expenditures and the transfer of funds between affiliated or connected organizations shall not be considered in determining the committee’s primary purpose. The primary purpose of the committee shall not be determined on the basis of only one report or election cycle, but over the entirety of the committee’s registration.\n\t\t\t“Referendum committee” means any organization, person, group of persons, or committee, that makes expenditures in a calendar year in excess of (i) $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum, (ii) $5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or more counties and cities, or (iii) $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum held in a single county or city.\n\t\t\t“Residence” means “residence” or “resident” as defined in § 24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Statewide office” means the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":277706,"text":"For the purpose of applying the filing and reporting requirements of this chapter, the terms “person” and “political committee,” shall not include an organization holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code which, in providing information to voters, does not advocate or endorse the election or defeat of a particular candidate, group of candidates, or the candidates of a particular political party.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16411,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13071,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:17:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:17:07","permalink":{"id":189055,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16411,"identifier":"1","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1","url":"\/24.2\/9.3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13071,"edition_id":1,"name":"Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006","identifier":"9.3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12937,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":189053,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13071,"identifier":"9.3","token":"24.2\/9.3","url":"\/24.2\/9.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12937,"edition_id":1,"name":"Elections","identifier":"24.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":187149,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12937,"identifier":"24.2","token":"24.2","url":"\/24.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82970,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945","catch_line":"Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive","url":"\/24.2-945\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945","metadata":false},{"id":77421,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/24.2-945.1\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945.1","metadata":false},{"id":68133,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945.2","catch_line":"Persons required to file independent expenditure disclosure reports; filing deadline","url":"\/24.2-945.2\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82970,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945","catch_line":"Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive","url":"\/24.2-945\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68133,"structure_id":16411,"section_number":"24.2-945.2","catch_line":"Persons required to file independent expenditure disclosure reports; filing deadline","url":"\/24.2-945.2\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/24.2-945.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1970. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 462 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1970 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 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 1975, chapter 515; in 1981, chapter 425; in 1983, chapter 119; in 1988, chapter 616; in 1991, chapters 9, 474, and 709; in 1993, chapters 641, 776, and 921; in 1994, chapter 510<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 405<\/a> and 1042<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 457<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 771<\/a>, 772<\/a>, 787<\/a>, 805<\/a>, 892<\/a>, and 938<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 246<\/a> and 831<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 152<\/a> and 289<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66524,"section_number":"24.2-951.1","catch_line":"Statement of organization for a referendum committee","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-951.1\/"},{"id":66205,"section_number":"24.2-954","catch_line":"Campaign fundraising; legislative sessions; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-954\/"},{"id":79350,"section_number":"24.2-955.1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-955.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61543,"section_number":"24.2-101","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-101\/"},{"id":68133,"section_number":"24.2-945.2","catch_line":"Persons required to file independent expenditure disclosure reports; filing deadline","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-945.2\/"},{"id":84972,"section_number":"24.2-950.1","catch_line":"Certain political party committees exempt","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-950.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":189061,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77421,"identifier":"24.2-945.1","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945.1","url":"\/24.2-945.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/24.2-945.1\/","token":"24.2\/9.3\/1\/24.2-945.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 24.2-945.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Authorization<\/span>” means express approval or express consent by the candidate<\/span>, the candidate<\/span>’s campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of the candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span> after coordination<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Campaign committee<\/span>” means the committee designated by a candidate<\/span> to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on his behalf in connection with his nomination or election.\n\t\t\t“Candidate<\/span>” means “candidate<\/span>” as defined in § 24.2-101<\/a>.\n\t\t\t“Contribution” means money and services of any amount, in-kind contributions<\/span>, and any other thing of value, given, advanced, loaned, or in any other way provided to a candidate<\/span>, campaign committee<\/span>, political committee, or person<\/span> for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate<\/span> or to an inaugural committee<\/span> for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General<\/span>. “Contribution” includes money, services, or things of value in any way provided by a candidate<\/span> to his own campaign and the payment by the candidate<\/span> of a filing fee for any party nomination method.\n\t\t\t“Coordinated<\/span>” or “coordination<\/span>” refers to an expenditure that is made (i) at the express request or suggestion of a candidate<\/span>, a candidate<\/span>’s campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of the candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span> or (ii) with material<\/span> involvement of the candidate<\/span>, a candidate<\/span>’s campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of the candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span> in devising the strategy, content, means of dissemination, or timing of the expenditure.\n\t\t\t“Designated contribution<\/span>” means a contribution that is designated specifically and in writing for a particular candidate<\/span> or candidates<\/span> and that is made using a political committee solely as a conduit.\n\t\t\t“Expenditure” means money and services of any amount, and any other thing of value, paid, loaned, provided, or in any other way disbursed by any candidate<\/span>, campaign committee<\/span>, political committee, or person<\/span> for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate<\/span> or by any inaugural committee<\/span> for the purpose of defraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Federal political action committee<\/span><\/span>” means any political action committee<\/span> registered with the Federal Election Commission that makes contributions to candidates<\/span> or political committees<\/span> registered in Virginia.\n\t\t\t“Inaugural committee<\/span>” means any organization, person<\/span>, or group of persons<\/span> that anticipates receiving contributions or making expenditures, from other than publicly appropriated funds, for the inauguration of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General<\/span> and related activities.\n\t\t\t“Independent expenditure<\/span>” means an expenditure made by any person<\/span>, candidate<\/span> campaign committee<\/span>, or political committee that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated<\/span> with, or made with the authorization<\/span> of a candidate<\/span>, his campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of the candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span>. “Independent expenditure<\/span>” includes an expenditure made by a candidate<\/span> campaign committee<\/span> (i) that is not related to the candidate<\/span>’s own campaign and (ii) that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated<\/span> with, or made with the authorization<\/span> of a different candidate<\/span>, his campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of that candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“In-kind contribution<\/span>” means the donation of goods, services, property, or other thing of value, other than money, including an expenditure controlled by, coordinated<\/span> with, or made upon the authorization<\/span> of a candidate<\/span>, his campaign committee<\/span>, or an agent of the candidate<\/span> or his campaign committee<\/span>, that is provided for free or less than the usual and normal charge. The basis for arriving at the dollar value of an in-kind contribution<\/span> is as follows: new items are valued at retail value; used items are valued at fair market value; and services rendered are valued at the actual cost of service per hour. Services shall not be deemed to include personal services voluntarily rendered for which no compensation is asked or given.\n\t\t\t“Out-of-state political committee<\/span>” means an entity covered by § 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is not registered as a political committee or candidate<\/span> campaign committee<\/span> in Virginia and that does not have as its primary purpose<\/span> expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate<\/span>. The term shall not include a federal political action committee<\/span><\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Person<\/span>” means any individual or corporation, partnership, business, labor organization, membership organization, association, cooperative, or other like entity.\n\t\t\t“Political action committee<\/span>” means any organization, person<\/span>, or group of persons<\/span>, established or maintained to receive and expend contributions for the primary purpose<\/span> of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate<\/span>. The term shall not include a campaign committee<\/span>, federal political action committee<\/span><\/span>, out-of-state political committee<\/span>, political party committee<\/span>, referendum committee<\/span>, or inaugural committee<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Political committee” means and includes any political action committee<\/span>, political party committee<\/span>, referendum committee<\/span>, or inaugural committee<\/span>. The term shall not include: (i) a federal political action committee<\/span><\/span> or out-of-state political committee<\/span>; (ii) a campaign committee<\/span>; (iii) a political party committee<\/span> exempted pursuant to § 24.2-950.1<\/a>; or (iv) a person<\/span> who receives no contributions from any source and whose only expenditures are made solely from his own funds and are either contributions made by him which are reportable by the recipient pursuant to this chapter or independent expenditures<\/span> which are reportable by him to the extent required by § 24.2-945.2<\/a>, or a combination of such reportable contributions and independent expenditures<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Political party committee<\/span>” means any state political party committee<\/span>, congressional district political party committee<\/span>, county or city political party committee<\/span>, other election district<\/span> political party committee<\/span>, or organized political party group of elected officials. This definition is subject to the provisions of § 24.2-950.1<\/a>.\n\t\t\t“Primary purpose<\/span>” means that 50% or more of the committee’s expenditures made in the form of contributions shall be made to candidate<\/span> campaign committees<\/span> or political committees<\/span> registered in Virginia. Administrative expenditures and the transfer of funds between affiliated or connected organizations shall not be considered in determining the committee’s primary purpose<\/span>. The primary purpose<\/span> of the committee shall not be determined on the basis of only one report or election cycle, but over the entirety of the committee’s registration.\n\t\t\t“Referendum committee<\/span>” means any organization, person<\/span>, group of persons<\/span>, or committee, that makes expenditures in a calendar year in excess of (i) $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum, (ii) $5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or more counties and cities, or (iii) $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum held in a single county or city.\n\t\t\t“Residence<\/span>” means “residence<\/span>” or “resident<\/span>” as defined in § 24.2-101<\/a>.\n\t\t\t“Statewide office<\/span>” means the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For the purpose of applying the filing and reporting requirements of this chapter, the terms “person<\/span>” and “political committee,” shall not include an organization holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c) (3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code which, in providing information to voters, does not advocate or endorse the election or defeat of a particular candidate<\/span>, group of candidates<\/span>, or the candidates<\/span> of a particular political party. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 24.2-945.1)\n\nA. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t\t“Authorization” means express approval or express consent by the\ncandidate, the candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the\ncandidate or his campaign committee after coordination.\n\t\t\t“Campaign committee” means the committee designated by a\ncandidate to receive all contributions and make all expenditures for him or on\nhis behalf in connection with his nomination or election.\n\t\t\t“Candidate” means “candidate” as defined in §\n24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Contribution” means money and services of any amount, in-kind\ncontributions, and any other thing of value, given, advanced, loaned, or in any\nother way provided to a candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or\nperson for the purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a\nclearly identified candidate or to an inaugural committee for the purpose of\ndefraying the costs of the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or\nAttorney General. “Contribution” includes money, services, or things\nof value in any way provided by a candidate to his own campaign and the payment\nby the candidate of a filing fee for any party nomination method.\n\t\t\t“Coordinated” or “coordination” refers to an\nexpenditure that is made (i) at the express request or suggestion of a\ncandidate, a candidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate\nor his campaign committee or (ii) with material involvement of the candidate, a\ncandidate’s campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his\ncampaign committee in devising the strategy, content, means of dissemination, or\ntiming of the expenditure.\n\t\t\t“Designated contribution” means a contribution that is designated\nspecifically and in writing for a particular candidate or candidates and that is\nmade using a political committee solely as a conduit.\n\t\t\t“Expenditure” means money and services of any amount, and any\nother thing of value, paid, loaned, provided, or in any other way disbursed by\nany candidate, campaign committee, political committee, or person for the\npurpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified\ncandidate or by any inaugural committee for the purpose of defraying the costs\nof the inauguration of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Attorney General.\n\t\t\t“Federal political action committee” means any political action\ncommittee registered with the Federal Election Commission that makes\ncontributions to candidates or political committees registered in Virginia.\n\t\t\t“Inaugural committee” means any organization, person, or group of\npersons that anticipates receiving contributions or making expenditures, from\nother than publicly appropriated funds, for the inauguration of the Governor,\nLieutenant Governor, or Attorney General and related activities.\n\t\t\t“Independent expenditure” means an expenditure made by any\nperson, candidate campaign committee, or political committee that is not made\nto, controlled by, coordinated with, or made with the authorization of a\ncandidate, his campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign\ncommittee. “Independent expenditure” includes an expenditure made by\na candidate campaign committee (i) that is not related to the candidate’s\nown campaign and (ii) that is not made to, controlled by, coordinated with, or\nmade with the authorization of a different candidate, his campaign committee, or\nan agent of that candidate or his campaign committee.\n\t\t\t“In-kind contribution” means the donation of goods, services,\nproperty, or other thing of value, other than money, including an expenditure\ncontrolled by, coordinated with, or made upon the authorization of a candidate,\nhis campaign committee, or an agent of the candidate or his campaign committee,\nthat is provided for free or less than the usual and normal charge. The basis\nfor arriving at the dollar value of an in-kind contribution is as follows: new\nitems are valued at retail value; used items are valued at fair market value;\nand services rendered are valued at the actual cost of service per hour.\nServices shall not be deemed to include personal services voluntarily rendered\nfor which no compensation is asked or given.\n\t\t\t“Out-of-state political committee” means an entity covered by\n§ 527 of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is not registered as\na political committee or candidate campaign committee in Virginia and that does\nnot have as its primary purpose expressly advocating the election or defeat of a\nclearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a federal political\naction committee.\n\t\t\t“Person” means any individual or corporation, partnership,\nbusiness, labor organization, membership organization, association, cooperative,\nor other like entity.\n\t\t\t“Political action committee” means any organization, person, or\ngroup of persons, established or maintained to receive and expend contributions\nfor the primary purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a\nclearly identified candidate. The term shall not include a campaign committee,\nfederal political action committee, out-of-state political committee, political\nparty committee, referendum committee, or inaugural committee.\n\t\t\t“Political committee” means and includes any political action\ncommittee, political party committee, referendum committee, or inaugural\ncommittee. The term shall not include: (i) a federal political action committee\nor out-of-state political committee; (ii) a campaign committee; (iii) a\npolitical party committee exempted pursuant to § 24.2-950.1; or (iv) a\nperson who receives no contributions from any source and whose only expenditures\nare made solely from his own funds and are either contributions made by him\nwhich are reportable by the recipient pursuant to this chapter or independent\nexpenditures which are reportable by him to the extent required by §\n24.2-945.2, or a combination of such reportable contributions and independent\nexpenditures.\n\t\t\t“Political party committee” means any state political party\ncommittee, congressional district political party committee, county or city\npolitical party committee, other election district political party committee, or\norganized political party group of elected officials. This definition is subject\nto the provisions of § 24.2-950.1.\n\t\t\t“Primary purpose” means that 50% or more of the committee’s\nexpenditures made in the form of contributions shall be made to candidate\ncampaign committees or political committees registered in Virginia.\nAdministrative expenditures and the transfer of funds between affiliated or\nconnected organizations shall not be considered in determining the\ncommittee’s primary purpose. The primary purpose of the committee shall\nnot be determined on the basis of only one report or election cycle, but over\nthe entirety of the committee’s registration.\n\t\t\t“Referendum committee” means any organization, person, group of\npersons, or committee, that makes expenditures in a calendar year in excess of\n(i) $10,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a statewide referendum, (ii)\n$5,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a referendum being held in two or\nmore counties and cities, or (iii) $1,000 to advocate the passage or defeat of a\nreferendum held in a single county or city.\n\t\t\t“Residence” means “residence” or\n“resident” as defined in § 24.2-101.\n\t\t\t“Statewide office” means the office of Governor, Lieutenant\nGovernor, or Attorney General.\n\nB. For the purpose of applying the filing and reporting requirements of this\nchapter, the terms “person” and “political committee,”\nshall not include an organization holding tax-exempt status under § 501(c)\n(3), 501(c) (4), or 501(c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code which,\nin providing information to voters, does not advocate or endorse the election or\ndefeat of a particular candidate, group of candidates, or the candidates of a\nparticular political party.\n\nHISTORY: 1970, c. 462, \u00a7 24.1-255; 1975, c. 515, \u00a7 24.1-254.1; 1981, c. 425,\n\u00a7 24.1-254.2; 1983, c. 119; 1988, c. 616; 1991, cc. 9, 474, 709, \u00a7 24.1-254.3;\n1993, cc. 641, 776, 921, \u00a7\u00a7 24.2-901, 24.2-902; 1994, c. 510; 1996, cc. 405,\n1042; 2004, c. 457; 2006, cc. 771, 772, 787, 805, 892, 938; 2007, cc. 246, 831;\n2008, cc. 152, 289.","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}}