All Roll Calls
Yes: 223 • No: 24
Sponsored By: T. Travis Hackworth (Republican)
Became Law
State Corporation Commission; time frame for completion of certain proceedings. Requires the State Corporation Commission to complete proceedings involving an application for a certificate, permit, or approval required for the construction or operation by a public utility of certain transmission lines within nine months following such application, as required by current law for small renewable energy projects. The bill permits the Commission to enlarge such nine-month period for up to 120 days for applications regarding certain transmission lines. This bill is identical to HB 466.
Personalized for You
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.
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
The Commission sets codes of conduct for utilities and their affiliates when those affiliates provide or control power services. These rules prevent unfair behavior and protect competition and customers. Utilities may offer metering options to customers.
The Commission finishes cases for small renewable energy projects within nine months after a complete application. For some facilities, it may add up to 120 days for review and public input. Small renewable projects are declared to be in the public interest. The Commission reads the law in favor of approving them.
The Commission allows a power plant only if it does not harm service reliability and is not against the public interest. For some utility-built plants filed after July 1, 2007, it must also be required by public convenience and necessity. If another agency already issued an environmental or similar permit, the Commission treats that as meeting those parts and does not add new conditions on the same issues. In areas that were rated serious ozone nonattainment on July 1, 2001, the Commission cannot make its approval depend on getting other environmental permits. Any certificate tied to an application filed before July 1, 2002 gets two extra years before it expires.
Municipal electric utilities and certain authorities that existed on July 1, 1999 are not under this chapter. They can choose to opt in. If they sell to retail customers outside the area they served in 1999, the chapter then applies. If a city opts in, the rules for incumbent utilities apply to it.
Beginning July 1, 2003, most chapter rules do not apply to an investor-owned utility that serves only Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, and Wise Counties and no area with retail choice. The net metering rules still apply. During the suspension, the utility charges its capped rates for the capped-rate period. After that period, the Commission sets rates based on prudently incurred costs.
The State Corporation Commission regulates retail electric distribution across Virginia. It also oversees transmission, reliability, and maintenance unless federal law says otherwise. Incumbent utilities keep exclusive rights to serve their territories and must keep providing service there. Customers get state oversight and service standards, but retail competition stays limited.
T. Travis Hackworth
Republican • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 223 • No: 24
House vote • 3/3/2026
Passed House
Yes: 81 • No: 17
House vote • 2/26/2026
Reported from Labor and Commerce
Yes: 17 • No: 4
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Read third time and passed Senate
Yes: 36 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading)
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/13/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2026
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0149)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 149 (effective 7/1/2026)
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB310)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB310ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed House (81-Y 17-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB310)
Reported from Labor and Commerce (17-Y 4-N)
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Read first time
Placed on Calendar
Read third time and passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Rules suspended
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
Committee substitute printed 26107831D-S1
Chaptered
4/6/2026
Enrolled
3/9/2026
Substitute
2/13/2026
Substitute
2/12/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
SB767 — Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals.
Motor vehicle glass repair and replacement; emissions inspection; penalties. Establishes various notice requirements for motor vehicle glass repair shops, defined in the bill, and provides that a violation of such requirements is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill permits a motor vehicle to qualify for an emissions inspection waiver if such vehicle has failed an inspection and the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system is in a not-ready condition to be tested when presented for reinspection. This bill is identical to HB 312.
SB803 — Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful conduct. Directs the Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining "quid pro quo harassment," "hostile environment harassment," and other terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. The bill directs the Fair Housing Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB731 — Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
SB620 — Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report. Transitions and provides a more comprehensive structure for the current licensing and enforcement responsibilities related to liquid nicotine and retail tobacco products from the Department of Taxation to a permitting system administered by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill requires the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage and Control Authority to conduct an unannounced buyer operation at least once every 24 months to verify that a permittee, defined in the bill, is not selling retail tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. Portions of the bill have a delayed effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 308.
SB666 — Residential land development and construction; fee transparency, local housing development.
Department of Housing and Community Development; housing development database. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to collect from each locality and make available to the public, localities, state agencies, and other state and regional public entities in a centralized, machine-readable, screen reader compatible database various data for each new and existing housing development in each locality in the Commonwealth, including data related to the number of housing development plans submitted and approved by the locality and the average approval timeline for housing development plans.
SB599 — Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.
Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 455.