Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB 497
Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Russet Perry (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Policy of the Commonwealth; siting of certain new electric transmission facilities; Department of Transportation work group; report. Provides that in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that existing linear infrastructure corridors shall be prioritized over new corridors. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to convene a work group to identify opportunities and develop recommendations to amend regulations and permitting processes to facilitate the expedient and efficient siting of new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. This bill is identical to HB 889.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:38 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 24, 2026 House | Reported from Labor and Commerce | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 16, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 16, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 13, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 12, 2026 Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Mar 31, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029) - Mar 31, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 29 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 24, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) - Mar 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 10, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB497ER) - Mar 4, 2026 · Senate
Enrolled - Feb 27, 2026 · House
Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A) - Feb 27, 2026 · House
Read third time - Feb 26, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 24, 2026 · House
Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 19, 2026 · House
Placed on Calendar - Feb 17, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) - Feb 16, 2026 · Senate
Read second time - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
Committee substitute printed 26106400D-S1 - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N) - Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 1, 2026 · Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497) - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105270D