Subcommittee moves bill to push back campaign finance review deadline to October

Delegate Bulova said HB 1496 would move the Department of Elections’ report deadline for campaign finance review from July 1 to Oct. 1. Bulova and witnesses including Wes Gobar of Clean Virginia explained the Department asked for the change because, although the statute gives the agency 180 days after election day to complete reviews, practically it has far less time and needs additional months to correspond with candidates and correct honest mistakes.

Witnesses including Nancy Morgan (Big Money Out) expressed support, calling the change a simple technical fix that reduces pressure on the department and gives candidates more time to file accurately. The subcommittee moved to report the bill and recommended it 7–0.

The bill advances with the record noting agency-requested timing relief rather than a substantive policy change.