SB 443 VA

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To Executive

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities; permitted accessory use. Deems battery energy storage projects as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts on any parcel of land that is subject to an approved special exception, as defined in the bill, for a commercial solar photovoltaic generation facility, if such battery energy storage project is located within the boundaries of the parcel covered by the existing special exception and complies with any applicable federal, state, and local safety or fire codes and environmental regulations. The bill prohibits a host locality from requiring a special exception or any other local land use approval on such battery energy storage project. The bill clarifies that nothing in the provisions of the bill shall be construed to (i) limit the authority of a host locality to enforce compliance with applicable codes or ensure the safe operation of the battery energy storage project or (ii) preclude the developer of a battery energy storage project from negotiating a siting agreement with the host locality. The bill also clarifies that any battery energy storage project for which an initial interconnection request has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization prior to July 1, 2030, and is constructed in accordance with the provisions of the bill shall be subject to the applicable local ordinance and regulation in effect on July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 891.

• Jeremy S. McPike Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103172D · upper
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Local Government · upper
3. Jan 13, 2026 Introduced bill reprinted 26103172D · upper
4. Jan 13, 2026 Introduced bill reprinted 26103172D · upper
5. Jan 26, 2026 Reported from Local Government (11-Y 3-N) · upper
6. Jan 26, 2026 Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/26/2026 11:53 am) · upper
7. Jan 27, 2026 Read first time · upper
8. Jan 27, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
9. Jan 27, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
10. Jan 27, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
11. Jan 27, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
12. Jan 28, 2026 Read second time · upper
13. Jan 28, 2026 Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) · upper
14. Jan 29, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A) · upper
15. Feb 4, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
16. Feb 4, 2026 Read first time · lower
17. Feb 4, 2026 Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns · lower
18. Feb 13, 2026 Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns (18-Y 3-N) · lower
19. Feb 15, 2026 Read second time · lower
20. Feb 16, 2026 Read third time · lower
21. Feb 16, 2026 Passed House (68-Y 30-N 0-A) · lower
22. Feb 18, 2026 Enrolled · upper
23. Feb 18, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB443ER) · upper
24. Feb 18, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
25. Feb 18, 2026 Signed by President · upper
26. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · upper
27. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
28. Apr 12, 2026 Governor's recommendation received by Senate · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Governor Substitute · PDF
• Governor Substitute · HTML
• Governor's Recommendation · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML