# Virginia SB497: Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting. Virginia SB497, Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Russet Perry (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-03-31 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB497-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB497 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-03-31, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029) - Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 7 (244 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 1 ## Summary Policy of the Commonwealth; siting of certain new electric transmission facilities; Department of Transportation work group; report. Provides that in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that existing linear infrastructure corridors shall be prioritized over new corridors. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to convene a work group to identify opportunities and develop recommendations to amend regulations and permitting processes to facilitate the expedient and efficient siting of new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. This bill is identical to HB 889. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Use existing corridors for power lines: benefit, low. The law requires new electric transmission lines to prioritize existing corridors, like utility and highway rights-of-way, when feasible. The priority must fit engineering and economic needs, keep the grid reliable, and protect cultural, historic, and environmental resources. The Department of Tran… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-27 | House | Passed House | pass | 95 | 1 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce | pass | 21 | 1 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 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 | 15 | 0 | | ## Actions (32) - 2026-03-31: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029) (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Approved by Governor-Chapter 29 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) (Senate) - 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) - 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB497ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-02-27: Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-27: Read third time (House) - 2026-02-26: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-24: Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-02-19: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House) - 2026-02-19: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-19: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (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 26106400D-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 (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105270D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-03-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214876.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214875.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188609.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188608.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147137.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147136.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145078.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145077.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090542.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090540.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/1214876.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214875.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188609.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188608.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147137.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1147136.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145078.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145077.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090542.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090540.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-SB497-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).