VirginiaHB10022026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Utilities, certain; notice procedures for nonpayment.

Sponsored By: Kathy K.L. Tran (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Electric, natural gas, and water or wastewater utilities; disconnection procedures for nonpayment. Requires certain utilities, for the purposes of required notices related to disconnections for nonpayment, to provide such notices in an additional language for customers residing in a locality that is required to provide voting or election materials in such additional language. The bill prohibits certain utilities from disconnecting a residential customer without making reasonable efforts to offer bill payment assistance, arrange a payment plan, or provide information to the customer for other bill payment assistance or energy savings programs. The bill directs the Department of Elections to post on its website a list of the localities designated as a covered locality for the purposes of providing voting or election materials in an additional minority language by September 1, 2026, and to update such list as necessary.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Lower deposit after energy assistance

If your electric or gas utility got Home Energy Assistance money for you in the past 12 months, your reconnection deposit is capped at 25% of your past due bill. That 25% applies to the arrearage, not counting fees, penalties, or interest. You can use this protection once every three years.

More time and notices before shutoff

The law delays shutoffs until your bill is at least 60 days late. Before a shutoff, the utility must offer a payment plan or bill help and contact you after each missed payment. It must send nonpayment notices using at least two ways: mail, email, text, phone, or a door hanger. You get the company's shutoff policy at signup, when a shutoff is scheduled, or on its website. Notices are in English and Spanish, and in any other language your locality uses for election materials. They must include information on payment plans and energy assistance.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kathy K.L. Tran

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 176 • No: 73

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor

Yes: 8 • No: 6

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 62 • No: 35

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 17 • No: 5

House vote 2/13/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 2/5/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 2/3/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 7 • No: 2 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0250)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 250 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  5. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1002ER)

    3/12/2026House
  6. Enrolled

    3/12/2026House
  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1002)

    3/12/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/12/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/5/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    3/4/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Commerce and Labor (8-Y 6-N)

    3/2/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    2/18/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  19. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  20. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House
  21. Read second time

    2/16/2026House
  22. Read first time

    2/15/2026House
  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    2/13/2026House
  24. Reported from Appropriations (17-Y 5-N)

    2/13/2026House
  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1002)

    2/11/2026House

Bill Text

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