# Virginia SB223: Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset.

Virginia SB223, Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB223-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB223
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-10
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 16 (386 yes, 194 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Distributed Energy Resources Task Force established; reports; sunset. Establishes the Distributed Energy Resources Task Force as an advisory commission within the executive branch with the purpose of developing a comprehensive strategy to advance the Commonwealth's transition toward integrated distributed energy resource markets and to support the Commonwealth's compliance with certain regulations. The bill describes the membership, powers, and duties of the Task Force and requires the Task Force to submit various reports to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 285.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Distributed energy planning and deadlines: benefit, low. The Task Force runs a broad planning process with developers, utilities, regulators, local officials, and community groups. It reviews Virginia laws and recent bills on distributed energy, learns from other states and national experts, and coordinates with related commissions, including the process…
- Faster connections and grid market access: benefit, low. The Task Force must recommend faster, modern interconnection rules and timelines for distributed energy resources. Recommendations must align with IEEE 1547‑2018 and UL 1741. It must also propose regulatory and tariff changes so Virginia’s rules match PJM’s plan to comply with FERC Order No. 2222 a…
- Support microgrids and community resilience: benefit, low. The Task Force makes recommendations to advance solar‑and‑storage microgrids, community resiliency hubs, and virtual power plants. The goal is to guide utilities, regulators, and local governments to increase deployment and market access. These steps are meant to strengthen resilience and improve a…
- Virginia creates distributed energy task force: benefit, low. The law creates a Distributed Energy Resources Task Force to advance energy affordability and market access and to align with FERC Order No. 2222. The 16‑member Task Force is chaired by the Chief Energy Officer; key state leaders appoint members, and the Energy Department staffs it. Full meetings a…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 22 | 17 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 65 | 33 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 65 | 32 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 69 | 30 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Reported from Rules with substitute | pass | 14 | 4 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 4 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 20 | 17 | 1 |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Rules Amendment rejected | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Reported from Rules with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 11 | 3 | 1 |

## Actions (58)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (65-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0997) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB223ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 997 (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)
- 2026-04-11: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB223) (Senate)
- 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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB223ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB223) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (65-Y 32-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees:Helmer, Franklin, M.A., Cornett (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-12: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-12: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: VanValkenburg, Bagby, Suetterlein (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Passed House with substitute (69-Y 30-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-11: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-10: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB223) (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Committee substitute printed 26108954D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from Rules with substitute (14-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (4-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-03-01: Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-02-19: Referred to Committee on Rules (House)
- 2026-02-19: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 17-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules Amendment rejected (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107735D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Reported from Rules with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 3-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB223) (Senate)
- 2026-01-10: Referred to Committee on Rules (Senate)
- 2026-01-10: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104643D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225035.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225034.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220738.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220737.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219169.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214358.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214357.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211221.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211218.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211217.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197590.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197589.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187669.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187668.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145689.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145688.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134125.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132703.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084135.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084134.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/1225035.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225034.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220738.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220737.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219169.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214358.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214357.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211221.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211218.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211217.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197590.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1197589.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187669.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1187668.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145689.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145688.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134125.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132703.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084135.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084134.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-SB223-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).