# Virginia HB891: Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities, etc.

Virginia HB891, Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Irene Shin (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 11-N 1-A)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB891-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB891
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities, etc.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 11-N 1-A)
- Sponsor: Irene Shin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (257 yes, 93 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities; permitted accessory use. Deems battery energy storage projects as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts on any parcel of land that is subject to an approved special exception, as defined in the bill, for a commercial solar photovoltaic generation facility, if such battery energy storage project is located within the boundaries of the parcel covered by the existing special exception and complies with any applicable federal, state, and local safety or fire codes and environmental regulations. The bill prohibits a host locality from requiring a special exception or any other local land use approval on such battery energy storage project. The bill clarifies that nothing in the provisions of the bill shall be construed to (i) limit the authority of a host locality to enforce compliance with applicable codes or ensure the safe operation of the battery energy storage project or (ii) preclude the developer of a battery energy storage project from negotiating a siting agreement with the host locality. The bill also clarifies that any battery energy storage project for which an initial interconnection request has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization prior to July 1, 2030, and is constructed in accordance with the provisions of the bill shall be subject to the applicable local ordinance and regulation in effect on July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 443.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier battery additions at solar sites: benefit, low. Virginia allows battery storage within a parcel already approved for solar use, in any zoning district, without separate local land-use approval. Existing solar approval can be a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, or similar approval. Battery storage capacity cannot exce…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Irene Shin (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 65 | 35 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 27 | 11 | 1 |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 27 | 11 | 1 |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government | pass | 11 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 70 | 28 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns | pass | 17 | 4 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 11-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1076) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (House)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (HB891ER2) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1076 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-12: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor)
- 2026-04-12: Governor's recommendation received by House (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: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate (27-Y 11-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Local Government (11-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read third time and passed House (70-Y 28-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (17-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #1 (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103655D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225329.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225328.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219761.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219760.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220950.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220949.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219310.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199947.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199946.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086335.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086333.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/1225329.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225328.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219761.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219760.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220950.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220949.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219310.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199947.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199946.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086335.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1086333.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB891-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).