# Virginia HB1372: Solar energy facilities; prevailing wage & apprenticeship requirements, state & local tax exemption.

Virginia HB1372, Solar energy facilities; prevailing wage & apprenticeship requirements, state & local tax exemption., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-13 (Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1372-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1372
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Solar energy facilities; prevailing wage & apprenticeship requirements, state & local tax exemption.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-20
- Last action: 2026-02-13, Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (18 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Solar energy facilities; prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements; state and local tax exemption; report; civil penalties. Requires each solar developer, including its contractors and subcontractors, to ensure payment at the prevailing wage rate set by the Department of Labor and Industry for any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform construction, maintenance, or repair work for certain electricity generating sources. The bill requires each solar developer to (i) ensure that a percentage of the total labor hours of such work is performed by qualified apprentices and (ii) employ at least one qualified apprentice if four or more individuals are employed to perform such work. Under the bill, a solar developer that fails to meet the requirements of its provisions is required to make penalty payments to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. Additionally, the bill provides that any certified solar generation facility, as defined in the bill, is declared a separate class of property and shall be classified for local taxation separately from other classifications of real or personal property. Such facilities shall be wholly exempt from state and local taxation under the Constitution of Virginia.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Continued to 2027 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 5 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 13 | 7 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-02-13: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Continued to 2027 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1372) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26106899D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-13: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-12: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-12: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (13-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-20: Presented and ordered printed 26104995D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145889.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145888.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145290.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145289.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092396.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092395.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145889.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145888.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145290.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145289.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092396.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092395.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1372-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).