VirginiaSB2502026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.

Sponsored By: Scott A. Surovell (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection. Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form for a customer of an electric utility or cooperative to install a small portable solar generation device and directs the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group to evaluate and develop recommendations regarding the safety standards and requirements applicable to small portable solar generation devices. Certain provisions of the bill become effective on January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 395.

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

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Simple rules and protections for plug-in solar

Beginning Jan 1, 2027, you can own and use a qualifying small portable solar device without utility interconnection, net metering, approval, or reimbursement. A qualifying device is movable, up to 1,200 watts per dwelling unit, plugs into a building outlet, sits on your side of the meter, meets the National Electrical Code, is certified by a national testing lab, and stops exporting power during outages. Devices with 391 watts or less to the outlet are exempt from product-listing provisions that would require wiring or panel changes. The State Corporation Commission must post a simple customer notification form by Sept 1, 2026. These devices count as goods under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, and a state work group will review safety standards and report by Nov 15, 2026.

Renters can use plug-in solar, with rules

Beginning Jan 1, 2027, landlords with more than four units (or over a 10% interest in more than four) cannot ban a tenant’s small portable solar device on the tenant’s exterior area. Tenants must give the landlord at least 7 days’ notice with documents showing the device meets legal requirements and where it will go. Landlords can set reasonable limits on size, place, and manner and can ban installation elsewhere on the property. Tenants are responsible for any damage caused by the device, and landlords are not liable for habitability problems caused only by the device. Tenants in units billed by a ratio utility billing system may not use these devices. No device that needs changes to the building, wiring, or panels is allowed without the landlord’s written OK.

Local rules ease home and yard solar

Beginning Jan 1, 2027, you may place rooftop solar to serve your own property if it meets height, setback, and any local historic rules. Ground-mounted solar in listed zones is allowed under the same rules unless a local ordinance says otherwise. Local governments cannot ban small portable solar on homes that meet zoning, historic, and device standards. Localities may also allow solar by-right in more zones and may require proper disposal of panels and devices when removed. Solar meant to serve other properties still follows local zoning rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Scott A. Surovell

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 354 • No: 36

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 27 • No: 12

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 93 • No: 3

Senate vote 3/12/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 29 • No: 11

House vote 3/11/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote 3/5/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 1

House vote 3/3/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 30 • No: 7 • Other: 1

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/9/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute

Yes: 11 • No: 1 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (93-Y 3-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  2. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 12-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0998)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (SB250ER2)

    4/22/2026Senate
  5. Approved by Governor-Chapter 998 (Effective - see bill)

    4/22/2026Governor
  6. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  7. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  8. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  9. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

    4/11/2026Governor
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

    4/6/2026Senate
  11. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  12. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  13. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  14. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB250ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  15. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  16. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

    3/24/2026Senate
  18. House substitute agreed to by Senate (29-Y 11-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026Senate
  19. Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  20. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    3/11/2026House
  21. committee substitute agreed to

    3/11/2026House
  22. Read third time

    3/11/2026House
  23. Passed by for the day

    3/10/2026House
  24. Read second time

    3/9/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26108925D-H1

    3/5/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation