VirginiaHB8332026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Land subdivision and development; optional provisions of a subdivision ordinance, etc.

Sponsored By: Adele Y. McClure (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Land subdivision and development; optional provisions of a subdivision ordinance; electric vehicle charging stations; Department of Energy; report. Allows, effective July 1, 2027, a locality to include in its subdivision ordinance a requirement for electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment, EV-ready charging spaces, or EV-capable parking spaces that provide infrastructure to facilitate future EV charging, including electrical capacity, prewiring, and conduit for a development containing commercial, industrial, or multifamily residential uses. Effective in due course, the bill directs the Department of Energy to evaluate the design and deployment of the electrical distribution infrastructure necessary to support the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities in new developments consisting of single-family and multifamily residential units, to provide recommendations on the appropriate number and type of EV charging spaces for new commercial and industrial developments, and to report its findings and recommendations to the State Corporation Commission no later than November 15, 2026.

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

8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 7 mixed.

Small-town escrow funds flexibility

Towns with 14,500 to 15,000 people can repurpose certain escrowed funds for similar improvements. The escrow must be $30,000 or less plus interest and held at least five years. The town must get the owner’s written consent, or show it could not locate the owner. This authority begins July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends it and certifies that.

Health review and water/sewer hookups

For lots using septic, the health official gives a preliminary opinion on whether subsurface sewage will work. If your building abuts a public water or sewer main, the locality can require you to connect, subject to section 15.2-2121. These rules take effect July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

Street upkeep notices and sidewalk duties

Deeds and plats must say when subdivision streets are not built to state standards and will not be maintained by the state or locality. Localities can set minimum standards and keep developer financial commitments until release. They can also require you to dedicate land and build sidewalks when neighbors have sidewalks or the comprehensive plan shows the need; in Northern Virginia towns, they can require land where the pedestrian plan designates it. These provisions start July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

Environmental checks and cleanup before approval

Localities can require a Phase I environmental site assessment that meets national standards, and a Phase II if Phase I shows risk. They can charge a reasonable review fee. They can also require you to disclose and clean up contamination before plans are approved. These rules begin July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

EV charging readiness in new developments

Localities can require EV chargers, EV-ready spaces, or EV-capable parking in commercial, industrial, or multifamily projects. They must try to minimize electrical distribution costs and allow automatic load management to cut the power needed per space. These rules start July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

New ways to fund off-site roads

The law lets localities repay developers who advance money for off-site roads the project causes. Repayment can include interest at the rate on the locality’s most recent bonds. In named localities, later developers must pay a pro rata share for those roads, with payments due at occupancy and interest no higher than the legal rate or inflation. Developers are exempt if they already proffered the work, paid an impact fee, or had final approvals before the plan. Beginning July 1, 2027, these tools apply only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

EV grid study and 2027 start date

The Virginia Department of Energy studies what grid upgrades are needed for EV charging in new housing and takes input from utilities, developers, and others. The Department sends its written findings to the State Corporation Commission by November 15, 2026. The Commission acts on the recommendations by July 1, 2027. Most new subdivision rules in this act then take effect on July 1, 2027 only if the Department recommends them and certifies that.

More flexible subdivision design options

Localities can allow clustered single-family homes and protect open space, following state procedures. At a subdivider’s request, they can add rules to keep sun access for solar heating and cooling in new subdivisions. Localities can also grant exceptions to subdivision rules in unusual hardship cases. These options take effect July 1, 2027 only if the Department of Energy recommends them and certifies that.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adele Y. McClure

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 234 • No: 100

House vote 3/6/2026

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Yes: 61 • No: 35

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Local Government Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with amendment

Yes: 22 • No: 18

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 3/2/2026

Reported from Local Government with amendment

Yes: 10 • No: 4 • Other: 1

House vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 60 • No: 34

House vote 2/9/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 5 • No: 2 • Other: 1

House vote 2/9/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0679)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 679 (Effective - see bill)

    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. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB833)

    3/13/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB833ER)

    3/13/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/13/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/13/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/13/2026House
  10. Senate amendment agreed to by House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with amendment (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. Local Government Amendment agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/4/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

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

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

    3/3/2026Senate
  17. Rules suspended

    3/3/2026Senate
  18. Senate committee offered

    3/2/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Local Government with amendment (10-Y 4-N 1-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB833)

    2/18/2026House
  21. Referred to Committee on Local Government

    2/16/2026Senate
  22. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/16/2026Senate
  23. Read third time and passed House (60-Y 34-N 0-A)

    2/13/2026House
  24. Engrossed by House as amended

    2/12/2026House
  25. committee amendments agreed to

    2/12/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation