# Virginia HB323: Data centers; Department of Energy shall lead efforts to accelerate use of waste heat, report.

Virginia HB323, Data centers; Department of Energy shall lead efforts to accelerate use of waste heat, report., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0591)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB323-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB323
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Data centers; Department of Energy shall lead efforts to accelerate use of waste heat, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-11
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0591)
- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (314 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Department of Energy; use of waste heat from data centers; findings and recommendations; work group; report. Directs the Department of Energy to lead efforts to accelerate the use of waste heat from data centers in the Commonwealth by making certain findings and recommendations and convening a work group to provide expertise, assistance, and feedback on the Department's efforts. The bill requires the Department to submit a report of its efforts, findings, legislative proposals, and recommendations no later than September 1, 2026.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia pushes reuse of data center heat: benefit, low. The Virginia Department of Energy leads efforts to use waste heat from data centers. It identifies where this heat can serve residential, commercial, and public buildings, district heating systems, and industries that use low‑temperature heat. It shares information and helps link data centers with…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 6 | 0 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0591) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 591 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB323ER) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-12: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB323) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB323) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-03: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-29: Committee substitute printed 26106339D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-27: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-11: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-01-11: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101896D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219028.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219027.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201091.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201090.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103526.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103525.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098976.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098975.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098640.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098639.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083851.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083848.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/1219028.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219027.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201091.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201090.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103526.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103525.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098976.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098975.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098640.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098639.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083851.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083848.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB323-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).