SB 497 VA

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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.

• Russet Perry Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105270D · upper
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor · upper
3. Feb 1, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) · upper
4. Feb 12, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
5. Feb 12, 2026 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N) · upper
6. Feb 13, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26106400D-S1 · upper
7. Feb 13, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
8. Feb 13, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
9. Feb 13, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
10. Feb 16, 2026 Read second time · upper
11. Feb 16, 2026 Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) · upper
12. Feb 16, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
13. Feb 16, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
14. Feb 16, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
15. Feb 16, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
16. Feb 17, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) · upper
17. Feb 19, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
18. Feb 19, 2026 Read first time · lower
19. Feb 19, 2026 Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce · lower
20. Feb 24, 2026 Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N) · lower
21. Feb 26, 2026 Read second time · lower
22. Feb 27, 2026 Read third time · lower
23. Feb 27, 2026 Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A) · lower
24. Mar 4, 2026 Enrolled · upper
25. Mar 4, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB497ER) · upper
26. Mar 4, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
27. Mar 4, 2026 Signed by President · upper
28. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · upper
29. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
30. Mar 24, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) · upper
31. Mar 31, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 29 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
32. Mar 31, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029) · 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.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · PDF
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · HTML
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · PDF
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML