VirginiaHB4662026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

State Corporation Commission; time frame for completion of certain proceedings.

Sponsored By: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

State Corporation Commission; time frame for completion of certain proceedings. Requires the State Corporation Commission to complete proceedings involving an application for a certificate, permit, or approval required for the construction or operation by a public utility of certain transmission lines within nine months following such application, as required by current law for small renewable energy projects. The bill permits the Commission to enlarge such nine-month period for up to 120 days for applications regarding certain transmission lines. This bill is identical to SB 310.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Faster reviews for small renewables

The SCC must finish any proceeding for a public utility’s small renewable energy project within nine months after a complete application. For some facilities, the SCC may extend that by up to 120 days to allow full review and public input. Small renewable energy projects defined in state law are in the public interest. The SCC interprets the law in favor of approving these projects.

Clear rules for power plant approvals

The SCC can approve a generating plant only if it will not harm reliability, is not against the public interest, and, for petitions filed after July 1, 2007 by regulated utilities, is required by public convenience and necessity. The SCC must consider environmental effects and may add conditions to reduce harm. Small renewable projects that have a state permit‑by‑rule are exempt from that SCC environmental review. A valid federal, state, or local environmental permit counts for those same issues, and the SCC cannot add extra conditions on them. In regions listed as “serious” one‑hour ozone nonattainment on July 1, 2001, the SCC cannot issue an approval that depends on getting an environmental permit later. Certificates from applications filed before July 1, 2002 get a two‑year extension before they expire.

State oversight of electric service

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) continues to regulate retail electric distribution in Virginia and, where federal law allows, in‑state transmission. It also oversees reliability, quality, and maintenance of the grid. The SCC must set codes of conduct for utilities and their affiliates to prevent anti‑competitive behavior. The law keeps incumbent utilities’ exclusive service territories and requires them to keep serving those areas. Incumbent utilities may offer metering options to customers.

Rules for municipal electric utilities

This chapter does not apply to municipal electric utilities and certain authorities that existed on July 1, 1999. A municipality or authority can choose to be covered. The chapter applies if the utility sells, offers to sell, or seeks to sell power outside its July 1, 1999 service area to a retail customer who is eligible to choose a supplier, with limited exceptions for transferred or mutually adjusted areas.

Special rate rules in five counties

For an investor‑owned utility that served retail customers on January 1, 2003 and operates only in Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, and Wise Counties, most of this chapter is suspended starting July 1, 2003. The suspension lasts while the utility does not serve retail customers elsewhere who can choose another supplier. During the suspension, rates are the capped rates for the capped‑rate period. After that period, the SCC sets rates based on the utility’s prudently incurred costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laura Jane Cohen

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 187 • No: 34

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 36 • No: 4

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 77 • No: 21

House vote 1/29/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 1/27/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 5 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0148)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 148 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB466)

    3/5/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB466ER)

    3/3/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/3/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/3/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/3/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (36-Y 4-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/26/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/25/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/25/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/25/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB466)

    2/19/2026House
  17. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    2/5/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/5/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (77-Y 21-N 0-A)

    2/4/2026House
  20. Engrossed by House as amended

    2/3/2026House
  21. committee amendments agreed to

    2/3/2026House
  22. Read second time

    2/3/2026House
  23. Read first time

    2/2/2026House
  24. Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)

    1/29/2026House
  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)

    1/27/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation