§ 24.2-948.6 – (Effective July 1, 2026) Use of campaign funds

A. A contribution accepted by a candidate or his campaign committee may be used for the following purposes:

1. For otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with the candidate’s campaign;

2. For ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the duties of the individual as an officeholder;

3. For contributions to any organization described in § 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code;

4. For transfers to any federal, state, or local political party committee;

5. For contributions to federal, state, and local candidates subject to the provisions of prevailing law;

6. For dependent care expenses that are incurred as a direct result of the person’s seeking, holding, or maintaining public office; or

7. For any other lawful purpose unless prohibited by subsection B.

B. Contributions to a candidate or his campaign committee shall not be converted by any person to personal use. For the purpose of this subsection, a contribution shall be considered to be converted to personal use if the contribution is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the person’s seeking, holding, or maintaining public office, which includes the following:

1. A home mortgage, rent, or utility payment;

2. A clothing purchase, except for clothing of de minimis value that is used in the campaign, such as T-shirts or caps imprinted with a campaign slogan;

3. A non-campaign-related automobile expense;

4. A country club membership;

5. A vacation or other non-campaign-related trip;

6. A household food item;

7. A tuition payment, other than those associated with the training of campaign staff;

8. Admission to a sporting event, a concert, a theater, or any other form of entertainment not associated with an election campaign;

9. Dues, fees, and other payments to a health club or recreational facility unless the payments are made in connection with a specific fundraising event that takes place on the organization’s premises; and

10. Salary payments to a member of a candidate’s family, unless the family member is providing bona fide services to the campaign and receives compensation that is no greater than the fair market value of the services provided.