# Virginia HB1487: Underground transmission lines; pilot program, clarifies qualifying projects, report.

Virginia HB1487, Underground transmission lines; pilot program, clarifies qualifying projects, report., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by JJ Singh (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0863)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1487-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1487
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Underground transmission lines; pilot program, clarifies qualifying projects, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0863)
- Sponsor: JJ Singh (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 12 (303 yes, 195 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

Pilot program for underground transmission lines; qualifying projects; levy; report. Authorizes the State Corporation Commission, in reviewing any application submitted by a public utility for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of an electrical transmission line of 500 kilovolts filed between January 1, 2025, and July 1, 2033, to approve up to four applications for qualifying projects to be constructed in whole or in part underground as part of the pilot program for underground transmission lines and to provide an expedited review of any such application. The bill removes certain provisions related to the existing pilot program. Under the bill, a project shall be qualified if (i) the Commission finds that an engineering analysis demonstrates that it is technically feasible to place the proposed line in whole or in part underground, (ii) the application contains certain information regarding projections of project costs, (iii) the application contains evidence that the governing body of each locality in which at least a portion of the proposed line will be placed underground supports the project's inclusion in the program and agrees to meet its related funding obligations, and (iv) the Commission finds the overall cost of the project reasonable and consistent with the public interest. The bill permits the Commission to deny an application for a project that otherwise meets the criteria to qualify, provided that the Commission publicly shares its rationale for doing so.The bill requires at least 50 percent of the marginal costs, as defined in the bill, of the portion of a qualifying project chosen to be placed underground within a locality pursuant to its provisions to be paid by such locality. The bill permits such a locality to meet such requirement through imposing a levy that meets certain requirements on electric utility customers within the locality, issuing a general obligation bond subject to a referendum, allocating its own funds, or any combination of such methods. The bill extends the Commission's final report deadline for the pilot program from December 1, 2024, to December 1, 2034. This bill is identical to SB 827.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia utility customers pay project costs: cost, medium. The Commission must allow a separate utility rate charge for approved pilot project costs not fully recovered through transmission facility charges. Those costs are assigned to the utility's Virginia customers. The law does not specify the total costs or how much customer bills increase.
- Optional local charge on electric bills: cost, low. A locality with a proposed underground pilot segment can adopt an extra charge on electric customers by ordinance. Residential customers cannot be charged more than $0.99 per month. This charge is allowed in addition to the existing utility consumer tax limit. The locality must consult Commission s…
- Faster approvals for limited underground power lines: mixed, low. Virginia limits the underground power line pilot to four projects. Generally, projects must include a 500-kilovolt section and pass within one-quarter mile of a residentially zoned area. Eligible applications can be filed from January 1, 2025, through July 1, 2033. The State Corporation Commission…
- Localities help fund underground power lines: mixed, low. A supporting locality must pay at least 50% of the added cost of placing the line underground within its borders. The Commission can assign it more if customers outside the locality otherwise face harm contrary to the public interest. Localities sharing a project must coordinate how they divide its…
- Stricter rules preserve local utility tax shares: mixed, low. These rules apply to local electricity and natural gas taxes imposed before January 1, 2001. When converting them to usage-based taxes, localities must preserve annual revenue and each customer class's share of the tax. Electricity taxes use kilowatt-hours; natural gas taxes use units of 100 cubic…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: JJ Singh (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 28 | 11 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 61 | 36 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Senate insisted on amendment Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 7 | 92 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 27 | 13 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 12 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 36 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 19 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 7 | 1 |   |

## Actions (45)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0863) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 863 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1487) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1487ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (61-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-09: House Conferees: Singh, Sullivan, O'Quinn (House)
- 2026-03-09: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Conferees: Srinivasan, Surovell, Peake (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-04: Senate insisted on amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Senate substitute rejected by House (7-Y 92-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1487) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 13-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Committee substitute printed 26108404D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 36-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-13: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-10: Committee substitute printed 26107094D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-10: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (19-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-05: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1487) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-23: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-23: Presented and ordered printed 26105920D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223016.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223015.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214518.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214517.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211135.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211132.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211131.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177734.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177733.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138733.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138732.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132214.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132213.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131679.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131678.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095468.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095467.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223016.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1223015.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214518.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214517.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211135.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211132.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211131.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177734.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177733.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138733.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138732.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132214.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132213.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131679.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131678.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095468.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095467.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1487-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).