Bill Sponsor
Virginia House Bill 711
Session 2026
Solar facilities; local regulation, special exceptions.
Active
Active
Passed House on Feb 5, 2026
First Action
Jan 13, 2026
Latest Action
Feb 6, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
711
State
Virginia
Session
2026
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (3)
Motion Text
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
House Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Unknown
Charlie Schmidt
Yes
Unknown
Ellen H. McLaughlin
No
Unknown
Gretchen M. Bulova
Yes
Unknown
Jessica L. Anderson
Yes
Unknown
John Chilton McAuliff
Yes
Unknown
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie
Yes
Unknown
Kimberly Pope Adams
Yes
Unknown
Leslie Chambers Mehta
Yes
Unknown
Lily V. Franklin
Yes
Unknown
Margaret A. Franklin
Didn't Vote
Unknown
Mark C. Downey
Didn't Vote
Unknown
Stacey Annie Carroll
Yes
Summary
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-2241.2, 15.2-2288.7, and 15.2-2288.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local regulation of solar facilities; special exceptions. Local regulation of solar facilities; special exceptions. Provides that a ground-mounted solar energy generation facility to be located on property zoned agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional shall be permitted pursuant to various criteria to be included in a local ordinance, such as specifications for setbacks, fencing, solar panel height, visual impacts, and grading, and a decommissioning plan for solar energy equipment and facilities, unless otherwise permitted by right. The bill requires localities to furnish the State Corporation Commission a record of special exception decisions reached pursuant to these provisions that includes (i) the reason for any adverse decision, (ii) any finding of nonconformity with the local comprehensive plan, and (iii) the date of the last revision to the comprehensive plan. Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to compile and maintain on the Commission's public website a searchable database of all solar special exception decisions and the reasons for any adverse decisions made over a period of not less than five years. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.
Documents (1)
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
Actions (15)
02/06/2026
Senate
Referred to Committee on Local Government
02/06/2026
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
02/05/2026
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
02/05/2026
House
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
02/04/2026
House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
02/04/2026
House
committee substitute agreed to
02/04/2026
House
Read second time
02/03/2026
House
Read first time
01/30/2026
House
Committee substitute printed 26106588D-H1
01/30/2026
House
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 5-N)
01/29/2026
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
01/29/2026
House
House subcommittee offered
01/28/2026
House
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
01/13/2026
House
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
01/13/2026
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104367D
Sources
Record Created
Jan 20, 2026 9:35:50 PM
Record Updated
Feb 8, 2026 9:15:48 PM