All Roll Calls
Yes: 392 • No: 26
Sponsored By: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)
Became Law
Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements; power purchase agreements. Amends certain renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements for Dominion Energy Virginia, including the annual percentage of program requirements to be met with solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth. The bill changes from 2025 to 2027 the compliance year beginning in which at least 75 percent of renewable energy certificates used by Dominion Energy Virginia shall come from eligible resources located in the Commonwealth. The bill also removes the requirement for a solar-powered or wind-powered generation facility to have a capacity of no less than 50 kilowatts to qualify for a third party power purchase agreement under a pilot program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission, by July 1, 2033, to initiate a proceeding to evaluate the future availability of renewable energy certificates from certain resources and permits the Commission to increase or decrease by up to one percentage point the percentage of program requirements to be met by such resources in future compliance years. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage development on previously developed project sites, as defined in existing law, to reduce the land use impacts of solar development. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 175.
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5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
By Dec. 31, 2024, utilities must retire all coal plants and any oil‑fired units over 500 MW operating in Virginia, with limited exceptions (such as certain jointly owned coal units and some Phase II units that co‑fire with biomass). By Dec. 31, 2045, all other in‑state power plants that emit carbon must be retired, except biomass units that do not co‑fire with coal. A utility can ask the Commission to delay a retirement if it would harm reliability or security of electric service. These steps cut emissions but can affect utility costs and customer rates over time.
The law creates a renewable portfolio standard. Utilities must buy and retire renewable energy certificates (RECs) for customers based on a share of last year’s sales. From 2025, only sources listed in law count; eligible types include solar and wind, some hydro, geothermal, certain waste‑to‑energy, and limited in‑state biomass with fuel and date limits. Starting with the 2027 compliance year, Phase II utilities must get at least 75% of RECs from Virginia projects. One percent must come from very small (1 MW or less) Virginia projects, and at least 25% of that must be low‑income qualifying projects when available; eligible school projects can fill the rest if needed. Geothermal heating and cooling systems in Virginia earn RECs based on BTUs converted to kWh, and any Virginia hydro that began before July 1, 2024 is eligible. Utilities can bank extra RECs for up to five years. The Commission sets rules, verifies compliance, and by July 1, 2033 can review and adjust the small‑project share by up to one percentage point for future years. Entities organized under Chapter 9.1 are exempt from this section.
Phase II utilities must seek approval to add 16,100 MW of in‑state solar and onshore wind by Dec. 31, 2035, which may include up to 5,200 MW of offshore wind. Targets are staged: 3,000 MW by 2024; +3,000 MW by 2027; +4,000 MW by 2030; +6,100 MW by 2035. At least 35% must be purchases from non‑utility owners, and 1,100 MW must be solar projects no larger than 3 MW each. Phase I utilities must add 600 MW of in‑state solar or onshore wind (200 MW by 2023, +200 MW by 2027, +200 MW by 2030), with at least 35% of each tranche purchased from non‑utility owners. From 2020 through 2035, each utility files a yearly plan for new solar and wind and meeting storage targets, aiming for at least 10% behind‑the‑meter storage; the Commission issues a final order within six months. Utilities must run at least one RFP each year with 45 days’ public notice and show competitive procurement when seeking a solar CPCN. Utilities must ask approval to procure zero‑carbon capacity and storage and can request cost recovery through base rates or a rate adjustment clause. When competitively priced and available, utilities must prefer equipment made in Virginia or the U.S.
An accelerated renewable energy buyer can contract for RECs or bundled energy, capacity, and RECs from PJM projects first in service after Jan. 1, 2015. These buyers can use the RECs to offset their load and avoid some non‑bypassable RPS charges in proportion to what they contract, except certain offshore wind costs; their load is excluded from utility RPS totals. Utilities must certify, or buyers may self‑certify, each year; the Commission can set rules. If a buyer‑utility contract does not shift extra costs to other customers, it is not treated as a special rate needing Commission approval. The Commission ensures any transmission and distribution costs are fairly split. Very large customers that switched to competitive suppliers before early 2019 are not assigned these RPS charges while they buy from others, and their loads are excluded.
If a utility misses its renewable targets, it must pay $45 per MWh of shortfall. For shortfalls tied to RECs from Virginia projects of 1 MW or less, the rate is $75 per MWh. These amounts rise 1% each year after 2021. Utilities can recover these payments as compliance costs in rates. All proceeds go to a state account: 50% for job training in historically economically disadvantaged communities, 16% for energy efficiency in public facilities, 30% for renewable programs in those communities, and 4% for administration.
Katrina Callsen
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 392 • No: 26
House vote • 3/2/2026
Senate substitute agreed to by House
Yes: 97 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Passed Senate with substitute
Yes: 22 • No: 18
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 with substitute
Yes: 9 • No: 6
House vote • 2/4/2026
Passed House Block Vote
Yes: 98 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 97 • No: 1
House vote • 1/29/2026
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)
Yes: 22 • No: 0
House vote • 1/27/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0645)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 645 (effective 7/1/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB628ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Senate substitute agreed to by House (97-Y 1-N 0-A)
Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Committee substitute printed 26108349D-S1
Senate committee offered
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB628)
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/6/2026
Substitute
2/24/2026
Substitute
2/23/2026
Engrossed
2/3/2026
Amendment
2/2/2026
Amendment
1/29/2026
Amendment
1/27/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
SB767 — Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals.
Motor vehicle glass repair and replacement; emissions inspection; penalties. Establishes various notice requirements for motor vehicle glass repair shops, defined in the bill, and provides that a violation of such requirements is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill permits a motor vehicle to qualify for an emissions inspection waiver if such vehicle has failed an inspection and the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system is in a not-ready condition to be tested when presented for reinspection. This bill is identical to HB 312.
SB803 — Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful conduct. Directs the Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining "quid pro quo harassment," "hostile environment harassment," and other terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. The bill directs the Fair Housing Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB731 — Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
SB620 — Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report. Transitions and provides a more comprehensive structure for the current licensing and enforcement responsibilities related to liquid nicotine and retail tobacco products from the Department of Taxation to a permitting system administered by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill requires the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage and Control Authority to conduct an unannounced buyer operation at least once every 24 months to verify that a permittee, defined in the bill, is not selling retail tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. Portions of the bill have a delayed effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 308.
SB666 — Residential land development and construction; fee transparency, local housing development.
Department of Housing and Community Development; housing development database. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to collect from each locality and make available to the public, localities, state agencies, and other state and regional public entities in a centralized, machine-readable, screen reader compatible database various data for each new and existing housing development in each locality in the Commonwealth, including data related to the number of housing development plans submitted and approved by the locality and the average approval timeline for housing development plans.
SB599 — Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.
Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 455.