VirginiaHB32026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force; established, report.

Sponsored By: Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Department of Housing and Community Development; Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force established; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, and with assistance from the Department of Social Services, the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to determine barriers to access and enrollment in the current energy efficiency programs for income-qualified energy customers and to evaluate and develop a plan to address any necessary improvements regarding coordination among state and federal government agencies for utility services and resources to more effectively deliver energy-efficient housing, weatherization resources, and energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least six times between July 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations no later than September 30, 2027. The bill specifies that such report shall include policy recommendations and a plan to ensure that weatherization-ready repairs and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits are provided to all eligible income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth residing in multifamily buildings, single-family dwellings, and manufactured homes by December 31, 2034. This bill is identical to SB 5.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Who qualifies for energy help

The law defines who counts as income‑qualified for energy‑efficiency and weatherization help. You qualify if your household income is at or below 60% of the Virginia median or 200% of the federal poverty level, whichever is higher. You also qualify if you already meet the rules for any income‑qualified assistance program. The law also defines what work counts, like weatherization, pre‑repair and safety fixes, and whole‑home energy upgrades.

2034 plan to serve income-qualified homes

The task force must submit a report by September 30, 2027 with funding sources, barriers, and policy fixes. It must include a plan, budget, and timeline to serve all eligible homes by December 31, 2034. The report must show, by place and housing type, how many qualify and still need work, plus pre‑repairs, waitlists, and wait times. It must report who got upgrades and the bill and energy savings. It must also publish five years of program data by census tract or ZIP, with costs and any energy saved, and include workforce steps.

Task force to expand home weatherization

The Department of Housing and Community Development creates a task force with the Department of Energy and help from Social Services. DHCD picks members, including state staff, at least 12 citizen members, and no more than three utilities. The group must include at least one income‑qualified ratepayer who got or tried to get weatherization help. Members choose a chair and meet at least six times from July 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 in public meetings. A quorum and majority vote are required to approve the report due by September 30, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Destiny LeVere Bolling

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 211 • No: 25

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 38 • No: 2

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 14 • No: 1

House vote 1/28/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 78 • No: 18

House vote 1/22/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce

Yes: 19 • No: 3

House vote 1/20/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0540)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 540 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  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. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB3)

    3/11/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB3ER)

    3/11/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/11/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  10. Passed Senate (38-Y 2-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/3/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

    3/3/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    1/29/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/29/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (78-Y 18-N 0-A)

    1/28/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    1/27/2026House
  21. Read first time

    1/26/2026House
  22. Reported from Labor and Commerce (19-Y 3-N)

    1/22/2026House
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB3)

    1/22/2026House
  24. Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 1-N)

    1/20/2026House
  25. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

    1/15/2026House

Bill Text

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