VirginiaElectric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.
What it does
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.
More detail
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 incorporates HB 289 and HB 928 and is identical to SB 250.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Mar 25Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 25Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026Minor
- Mar 23Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395)
- Mar 14Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 14Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 14Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB395ER)Major
- Mar 14EnrolledMinor
- Mar 9Senate substitute agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5Passed Senate with substitute (30-Y 8-N 1-A)Major
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute
- Mar 5Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to
- Mar 5Reading of substitute waived
- Mar 5Floor substitute printed 26109146D-S2 (Surovell)
- Mar 5Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute
- Mar 5Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- Mar 5Read third timeMinor
- Mar 5Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395)
- Mar 4Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 4Rules suspended
- Mar 3Committee substitute printed 26108918D-S1Major
- Mar 2Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (10-Y 4-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Senate committee offered
- Feb 23Senate committee offered
- Feb 5Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborMinor
- Feb 5Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 4Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
- Feb 4Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 3Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 3committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 3Read second timeMinor
- Feb 2Read first timeMinor
- Feb 1Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395)
- Jan 29Committee substitute printed 26106434D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N)Minor
- Jan 29Incorporates HB928 (Lopez)
- Jan 29Incorporates HB289 (Anderson)
- Jan 27Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 27House subcommittee offered
- Jan 19Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395)
- Jan 19Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3Minor
- Jan 12Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceMinor
- Jan 12Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104795DIntroduced