ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB497 Enacted
SB497 Senate Bill
Enacted
2026-03-31

Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting.

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.

Bill Details

State

Virginia

Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Chamber

Senate

Official Source

lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB497

LegiScan

View on LegiScan

Sponsors

Russet Perry (Sen - D)

Action History

2026-03-31 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029)
2026-03-31 Approved by Governor-Chapter 29 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-24 S Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-10 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-04 S Signed by President
2026-03-04 H Signed by Speaker
2026-03-04 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB497ER)
2026-03-04 S Enrolled
2026-02-27 H Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 H Read third time
2026-02-26 H Read second time
2026-02-24 H Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N)
2026-02-19 H Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
2026-02-19 H Read first time
2026-02-19 H Placed on Calendar
2026-02-17 S Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
2026-02-16 S Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 S Rules suspended
2026-02-16 S Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 S Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
2026-02-16 S Read second time
2026-02-13 S Passed by for the day
2026-02-13 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 S Rules suspended
2026-02-13 S Committee substitute printed 26106400D-S1
2026-02-12 S Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-12 S Senate committee offered
2026-02-01 S Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
2026-01-13 S Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2026-01-13 S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105270D

Votes

2026-02-12 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0
2026-02-13 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 35 Nay: 0
2026-02-16 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0
2026-02-16 Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0
2026-02-24 Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N) Yea: 21 Nay: 1
2026-02-27 Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A) Yea: 95 Nay: 1

Committee Referrals

2026-01-13 S Commerce and Labor
2026-02-19 H Labor and Commerce

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-13 Introduced
2026-02-12 Comm Sub
2026-02-13 Comm Sub
2026-03-04 Enrolled
2026-03-31 Chaptered

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