Bill Text: VA HB845 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled

---

Bill Title: False statements during campaigns; civil penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-13 - Left in Privileges and Elections [HB845 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2018-HB845-Prefiled.html

---

18102155D
HOUSE BILL NO. 845 Offered January 10, 2018 Prefiled January 9, 2018 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-1016.1, relating to false statements during campaign; civil penalty. ---------- Patron-- Ingram ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 24.2-1016.1 as follows:

§24.2-1016.1. Defamation by candidate during campaign.

No candidate shall, with actual malice, sponsor a political advertisement, as defined in § 24.2-955.1, containing a false statement of material fact, or otherwise make, publish, disseminate, or circulate a false statement of material fact, about another candidate for the office to which the sponsoring candidate is seeking to be elected, if such statement is calculated to injure the targeted candidate or his candidacy.

Any alleged violation of this section shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of §24.2-1019. Such violation shall be proven by clear and convincing evidence. If a violation is proven, the sponsoring candidate shall be assessed a civil penalty of $2,500.