VirginiaSolar facilities; local regulation, special exceptions.
What it does
Local regulation of solar facilities; special exceptions. Provides that a ground-mounted solar energy generation facility to be located on property zoned agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional shall be considered pursuant to various criteria to be included in a local ordinance, such as specifications for setbacks, fencing, solar panel height, visual impacts, grading, and a decommissioning plan for solar energy equipment and facilities, unless otherwise permitted by right. The bill requires localities to furnish the State Corporation Commission with a record of special exception decisions reached pursuant to these provisions that includes (i) the reason for any adverse decision, (ii) any finding of nonconformity with the local comprehensive plan, and (iii) the date of the last revision to the comprehensive plan.
More detail
The bill further requires the State Corporation Commission to compile and maintain on the Commission's public website a searchable database of all solar special exception decisions and the reasons for any adverse decisions made over a period of not less than five years. Finally, the bill states that its provisions shall apply to any ground-mounted solar facility with a generating capacity of one megawatt or more for which an application for local approval is filed on or after July 1, 2026, and any such project shall not be governed by any local ordinances inconsistent with the bill; however, any application for a solar energy facility that has been received and accepted by the relevant authority prior to July 1, 2026, shall be subject to any applicable local ordinances in place at the time the initial application was filed. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 347.
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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 13Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Apr 6Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
- Mar 14Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 14Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026Minor
- Mar 12Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 11Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 11Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB711ER)Major
- Mar 11EnrolledMinor
- Mar 4Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 3Rules suspended
- Mar 2Reported from Local Government (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 6Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 4Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 4committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 4Read second timeMinor
- Feb 3Read first timeMinor
- Jan 30Committee substitute printed 26106588D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 5-N)Minor
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29House subcommittee offered
- Jan 28Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104367DIntroduced