# Virginia HB590: Smart Solar Permitting Platform; established, residential solar energy systems. Virginia HB590, Smart Solar Permitting Platform; established, residential solar energy systems., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0633)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB590-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB590 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Smart Solar Permitting Platform; established, residential solar energy systems. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0633) - Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 15 (311 yes, 226 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary Smart Solar Permitting Platform established; residential solar energy systems; work group; report. Creates the Smart Solar Permitting Platform (the Platform) to serve as a tool for (i) contractors to obtain permits for the construction of streamline-eligible residential solar energy systems and (ii) localities to process applications for such permits. The bill requires the Department of Energy to establish, launch, and administer the Platform by July 1, 2027, as an internet-based platform that automates plan review and instantly releases a permit or a permit revision to construct certain residential solar energy systems that comply with any applicable building codes and state laws. The bill requires localities to allow contractors to submit an application to construct a residential solar energy system through the Platform or through an alternative automated solar permitting platform by July 1, 2028. The bill requires any locality that chooses to use an alternative automated solar permitting platform to submit an annual report to the Department no later than March 1 of each year. The bill directs the Director of the Department to convene a work group to determine the appropriateness of adding a surcharge to local government permitting fees to defray state costs for the Platform and to report its findings to the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 382. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Instant online permits for home solar: benefit, medium. The Department of Energy runs a 24/7 online solar permitting system by July 1, 2027. It auto checks code and instantly issues permits or revisions for compliant jobs; it accepts e-signatures and creates inspection documents. It covers panels, batteries, main panel upgrades tied to the solar, and ma… - Private vendor allowed; short local delay: mixed, low. The Department may use a private company to provide the Platform if it meets all rules and is free or low cost. The Department must consider cost-effectiveness. A locality may request up to a six-month extension beyond July 1, 2028, to launch its alternative system. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 64 | 33 | | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 17 | | | 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-11 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 98 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 23 | 17 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 6 | | | 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 61 | 34 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 | | | 2026-02-11 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 2 | | | 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 | | | 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations | pass | 8 | 1 | | ## Actions (55) - 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0633) (Governor) - 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 633 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (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 (HB590ER) (House) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-20: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (House) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Hernandez, Nivar, Runion (House) - 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-12: House acceded to request (House) - 2026-03-12: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Surovell, Boysko, Peake (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-10: Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (House) - 2026-03-06: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26108986D-S1 (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (House) - 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (61-Y 34-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-02-16: committee substitute rejected (House) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-13: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107463D-H2 (House) - 2026-02-11: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-02-11: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (House) - 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) (House) - 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106636D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House) - 2026-02-03: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House) - 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-01-20: Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102512D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221640.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221639.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214482.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214481.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210525.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210521.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210520.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190035.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190034.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142596.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141908.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142592.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142591.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142595.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141907.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115336.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115335.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103845.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103844.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103342.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103341.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085080.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085079.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/1221640.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221639.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214482.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214481.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210525.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210521.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210520.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190035.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1190034.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142596.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141908.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142592.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142591.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142595.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141907.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115336.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115335.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103845.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103844.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103342.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103341.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085080.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085079.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-HB590-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).