HB 590 VA

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Became Law

Smart Solar Permitting Platform established; residential solar energy systems; work group; report. Creates the Smart Solar Permitting Platform (the Platform) to serve as a tool for (i) contractors to obtain permits for the construction of streamline-eligible residential solar energy systems and (ii) localities to process applications for such permits. The bill requires the Department of Energy to establish, launch, and administer the Platform by July 1, 2027, as an internet-based platform that automates plan review and instantly releases a permit or a permit revision to construct certain residential solar energy systems that comply with any applicable building codes and state laws. The bill requires localities to allow contractors to submit an application to construct a residential solar energy system through the Platform or through an alternative automated solar permitting platform by July 1, 2028. The bill requires any locality that chooses to use an alternative automated solar permitting platform to submit an annual report to the Department no later than March 1 of each year. The bill directs the Director of the Department to convene a work group to determine the appropriateness of adding a surcharge to local government permitting fees to defray state costs for the Platform and to report its findings to the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 382.

• Phil M. Hernandez Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102512D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce · lower
3. Jan 20, 2026 Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 · lower
4. Jan 29, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
5. Jan 29, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 1-N) · lower
6. Feb 3, 2026 Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) · lower
7. Feb 3, 2026 Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources · lower
8. Feb 3, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26106636D-H1 · lower
9. Feb 6, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
10. Feb 11, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
11. Feb 11, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) · lower
12. Feb 11, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
13. Feb 11, 2026 Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 7-N) · lower
14. Feb 11, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26107463D-H2 · lower
15. Feb 13, 2026 Read first time · lower
16. Feb 16, 2026 Read second time · lower
17. Feb 16, 2026 committee substitute rejected · lower
18. Feb 16, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
19. Feb 16, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
20. Feb 17, 2026 Read third time and passed House (61-Y 34-N 0-A) · lower
21. Feb 18, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
22. Feb 18, 2026 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor · upper
23. Feb 19, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
24. Mar 2, 2026 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N) · upper
25. Mar 3, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108986D-S1 · upper
26. Mar 6, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) · upper
27. Mar 6, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
28. Mar 9, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
29. Mar 9, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
30. Mar 9, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
31. Mar 10, 2026 Read third time · upper
32. Mar 10, 2026 Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to · upper
33. Mar 10, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute · upper
34. Mar 10, 2026 Passed Senate with substitute (23-Y 17-N 0-A) · upper
35. Mar 11, 2026 Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A) · lower
36. Mar 12, 2026 Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
37. Mar 12, 2026 Senate requested conference committee · upper
38. Mar 12, 2026 House acceded to request · lower
39. Mar 12, 2026 Conferees appointed by House · lower
40. Mar 12, 2026 House Conferees: Hernandez, Nivar, Runion · lower
41. Mar 12, 2026 Conferees appointed by Senate · upper
42. Mar 12, 2026 Senate Conferees: Surovell, Boysko, Peake · upper
43. Mar 13, 2026 Conference Report released · legislature
44. Mar 13, 2026 Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · upper
45. Mar 14, 2026 Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 33-N 0-A) · lower
46. Mar 20, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
47. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
48. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB590ER) · lower
49. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
50. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
51. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
52. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
53. Apr 1, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB590) · lower
54. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 633 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
55. Apr 13, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0633) · 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
• Conference Report Substitute · PDF
• Conference Report Substitute · HTML
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · PDF
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · HTML
• Appropriations Substitute · PDF
• Appropriations Substitute · HTML
• Appropriations Substitute · PDF
• Appropriations Substitute · HTML
• Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee Substitute · PDF
• Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee Substitute · HTML
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · PDF
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · HTML
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · PDF
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · HTML
• Subcommittee #3 Subcommittee Substitute · PDF
• Subcommittee #3 Subcommittee Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML