# Virginia SB802: Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program.

Virginia SB802, Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mamie E. Locke (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0921)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB802-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB802
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0921)
- Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (158 yes, 72 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Air Pollution Control Board to establish and maintain a market-based trading program consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, as defined in existing law, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generating units in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to HB 397.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Energy-saving help for low-income households: benefit, medium. The law directs 50 percent of carbon allowance auction revenue to low-income energy-saving programs, including programs for eligible housing developments. Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development manages the account and reviews and approves funding proposals. Unspent money and int…
- Flood assistance for communities and residents: benefit, medium. The law directs 45 percent of carbon allowance auction revenue to a fund for flood assistance. It supports localities and residents affected by repeated flooding, sea level rise, or flooding from severe weather. The law does not set individual award amounts or payment formulas.
- Long-term power buyers must obtain allowances: cost, medium. Buyers under qualifying energy conversion or energy tolling contracts must obtain any carbon dioxide allowances required by the applicable rules. The contract’s primary term must be at least 20 years, and the buyer must supply fuel to the covered source or unit. The buyer must also receive all its…
- Power plants face carbon trading rules: mixed, medium. Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board must maintain carbon trading rules for power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Department of Environmental Quality runs the program, and its Director must seek to auction 100 percent of allowances issued each year. The Departme…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mamie E. Locke (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Passed House | pass | 64 | 35 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 6 |   |

## Actions (27)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0921) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 921 (effective 7/1/2026) (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)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB802) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB802ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB802) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Presented and ordered printed 26106046D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224575.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224574.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191403.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191402.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096137.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096136.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/1224575.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224574.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191403.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191402.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096137.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096136.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB802-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).