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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 1491

Electric utilities; construction of new overhead transmission lines, siting requirements.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (8)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines; siting requirements. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in order to approve the construction of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to determine that the corridor or route chosen for the line will avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impact to the greatest extent reasonably practicable on dwelling houses. For overhead transmission lines of 500 kilovolts or more constructed by Dominion Energy Virginia, the bill directs the Commission to prioritize approving corridors or routes for construction for which the center is located farther than 150 feet from any dwelling house, public or private school building, day care, or place of worship unless no other practicable alternative exists.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 12, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 10, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 9, 2026
Senate		Reported from Commerce and LaborpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 16, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 10, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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