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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 443

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (1)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities; permitted accessory use. Deems battery energy storage projects as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts on any parcel of land that is subject to an approved special exception, as defined in the bill, for a commercial solar photovoltaic generation facility, if such battery energy storage project is located within the boundaries of the parcel covered by the existing special exception and complies with any applicable federal, state, and local safety or fire codes and environmental regulations. The bill prohibits a host locality from requiring a special exception or any other local land use approval on such battery energy storage project. The bill clarifies that nothing in the provisions of the bill shall be construed to (i) limit the authority of a host locality to enforce compliance with applicable codes or ensure the safe operation of the battery energy storage project or (ii) preclude the developer of a battery energy storage project from negotiating a siting agreement with the host locality. The bill also clarifies that any battery energy storage project for which an initial interconnection request has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization prior to July 1, 2030, and is constructed in accordance with the provisions of the bill shall be subject to the applicable local ordinance and regulation in effect on July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 891.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Feb 16, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 13, 2026
House		Reported from Counties, Cities and TownspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 27, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 26, 2026
Senate		Reported from Local GovernmentpassSet your home in Virginia to see

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