HB 153 VA

0likes☆Favorite🔕SubscribeShare

Became Law

Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. Provides that, prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), as defined in the bill, a locality shall require that an applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the HEUF on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. The bill also allows a locality to require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed facility on (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, and (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land. The provisions of the bill shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power. Finally, the bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. This bill incorporates HB 511 and is identical to SB 94.

• Joshua E. Thomas Democratic · primary

1. Jan 6, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101337D · lower
2. Jan 6, 2026 Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns · lower
3. Jan 14, 2026 Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/14/2026 12:13 pm) · lower
4. Jan 20, 2026 Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2 · lower
5. Jan 22, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
6. Jan 22, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) · lower
7. Jan 23, 2026 Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 2-N) · lower
8. Jan 23, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26105995D-H1 · lower
9. Jan 23, 2026 Incorporates HB511 (McAuliff) · lower
10. Jan 27, 2026 Read first time · lower
11. Jan 28, 2026 Read second time · lower
12. Jan 28, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
13. Jan 28, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
14. Jan 29, 2026 Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 0-A) · lower
15. Jan 30, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
16. Jan 30, 2026 Referred to Committee on Local Government · upper
17. Mar 2, 2026 Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N) · upper
18. Mar 2, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108996D-S1 · upper
19. Mar 9, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) · upper
20. Mar 10, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
21. Mar 10, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
22. Mar 10, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
23. Mar 11, 2026 Read third time · upper
24. Mar 11, 2026 Local Government Substitute agreed to · upper
25. Mar 11, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute · upper
26. Mar 11, 2026 Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A) · upper
27. Mar 12, 2026 Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A) · lower
28. Mar 12, 2026 Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
29. Mar 12, 2026 Senate requested conference committee · upper
30. Mar 12, 2026 House acceded to request · lower
31. Mar 12, 2026 Conferees appointed by House · lower
32. Mar 12, 2026 House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt · lower
33. Mar 12, 2026 Conferees appointed by Senate · upper
34. Mar 12, 2026 Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley · upper
35. Mar 12, 2026 Senate insisted on substitute · upper
36. Mar 13, 2026 Conference Report released · legislature
37. Mar 14, 2026 Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 2-N 0-A) · lower
38. Mar 14, 2026 Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A) · upper
39. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
40. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB153ER) · lower
41. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
42. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
43. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
44. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
45. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 567 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
46. Apr 13, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0567) · 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
• Conference Report · HTML
• Local Government Substitute · PDF
• Local Government Substitute · HTML
• Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute · PDF
• Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute · HTML
• Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute · PDF
• Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute · HTML
• Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute · PDF
• Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML