# Virginia SB1281: Electric utilities; retail competition.

Virginia SB1281, Electric utilities; retail competition., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by T. Travis Hackworth (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-27 (Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (8-Y 7-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1281-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1281
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Electric utilities; retail competition.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-01-27, Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (8-Y 7-N)
- Sponsor: T. Travis Hackworth (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commerce and Labor
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (8 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Electric utilities; retail competition. Authorizes a customer who is a customer of a Phase I Utility that had a typical residential customer bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month that exceeded 125 percent of the statewide average during the most recent calendar year to purchase electric energy from any supplier of electric energy licensed to sell retail electric energy within the Commonwealth. The bill also decreases the period that such a customer who switches from an investor-owned electric utility to a competing supplier is barred from returning as a customer of its utility from five years to 90 days.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: T. Travis Hackworth (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter | pass | 8 | 7 |   |

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-27: Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (8-Y 7-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102425D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030663.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030662.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018659.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018658.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030663.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030662.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018659.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1018658.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1281-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).