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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 395

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (7)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection. Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form for a customer of an electric utility or cooperative to install a small portable solar generation device and directs the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group to evaluate and develop recommendations regarding the safety standards and requirements applicable to small portable solar generation devices. Certain provisions of the bill become effective on January 1, 2027. This bill incorporates HB 289 and HB 928 and is identical to SB 250.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 9, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 5, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 4, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 2, 2026
Senate		Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 27, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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