SB 659 VA

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Became Law

Solar Interconnection Grant Fund and Program established; report; sunset. Establishes the Solar Interconnection Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to public bodies to offset costs associated with the interconnection of solar facilities to the grid. The Program is administered by the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. The bill requires that priority be given to solar facilities located on previously developed project sites and requires the Division to establish and publish guidelines and criteria for the awarding of grants and general requirements of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and, as introduced, was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 683.

• Christie New Craig Republican · primary

1. Jan 14, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104604D · upper
2. Jan 14, 2026 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor · upper
3. Jan 30, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659) · upper
4. Feb 8, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659) · upper
5. Feb 9, 2026 Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N) · upper
6. Feb 11, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (12-Y 2-N 1-A) · upper
7. Feb 12, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
8. Feb 12, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
9. Feb 12, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
10. Feb 13, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26107816D-S1 · upper
11. Feb 13, 2026 Read second time · upper
12. Feb 13, 2026 Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to · upper
13. Feb 13, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) · upper
14. Feb 16, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 8-N 1-A) · upper
15. Feb 18, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659) · upper
16. Feb 20, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
17. Feb 20, 2026 Read first time · lower
18. Feb 20, 2026 Referred to Committee on Appropriations · lower
19. Feb 25, 2026 Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources · lower
20. Feb 25, 2026 Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) · lower
21. Feb 27, 2026 Read second time · lower
22. Mar 2, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
23. Mar 2, 2026 Read third time · lower
24. Mar 2, 2026 Passed House (84-Y 15-N 0-A) · lower
25. Mar 5, 2026 Enrolled · upper
26. Mar 5, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB659ER) · upper
27. Mar 5, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659) · upper
28. Mar 5, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
29. Mar 5, 2026 Signed by President · upper
30. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · upper
31. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
32. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 660 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
33. Apr 13, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0660) · 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
• Finance and Appropriations Substitute · PDF
• Finance and Appropriations Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML