# Virginia SB256: Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.

Virginia SB256, Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB256-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB256
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (227 yes, 118 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Minimum energy and water conservation standards; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning facilities and home appliances; Department of Energy; prohibited practices; penalty. Provides that if any product or product categories under the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (the EPCA) are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department of Energy shall adopt energy or water conservation standards that shall be equivalent to the last applicable federal standards with a product compliance date of on or before December 31, 2025. The bill prohibits any such new products from being sold, offered for sale, leased, or rented in the Commonwealth unless such products meet or exceed such standards. The bill excludes any energy or water conservation standards set aside by a court or any product if federal law preempts the application of the minimum energy and water conservation standards to such a product, including any product or product categories where there is a requirement to develop a standard under the EPCA.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New testing rules for manufacturers: cost, medium. When Virginia adopts a standard for a covered product, manufacturers must test those products. Testing uses the federal methods in 10 C.F.R. Parts 430 and 431 as of December 31, 2025, or other methods the Department approves. Makers must certify results in an approved third-party database, such as…
- Virginia keeps appliance efficiency standards: mixed, low. The law keeps the last federal energy or water standard for a product if the U.S. government removes it. Virginia’s standard matches the last federal one with a product compliance date on or before December 31, 2025. Starting 12 months after the federal removal, new products of that type cannot be…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeremy S. McPike (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 34 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Passed House | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 35 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |

## Actions (37)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0999) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB256ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 999 (Effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB256ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-26: Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107427D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100892D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225047.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225046.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220901.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220900.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219569.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194894.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194893.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147098.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147097.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145304.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145303.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087006.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087005.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/1225047.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225046.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220901.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220900.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219569.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194894.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194893.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147098.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147097.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145304.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145303.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087006.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087005.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-SB256-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).