Transmission Lines Siting Prioritizing Existing Corridors
Summary
Virginia enacted HB889 establishing state policy that existing linear infrastructure corridors shall be prioritized over new corridors for siting electric transmission facilities. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to convene a work group to identify opportunities and develop recommendations to amend regulations and permitting processes for siting new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers and is identical to SB 497.
What changed
HB889 establishes a new state policy directing that existing linear infrastructure corridors be prioritized over new corridors when siting electric transmission facilities in Virginia. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to convene a work group to identify opportunities and develop recommendations for amending regulations and permitting processes to facilitate expedient and efficient siting of new transmission infrastructure within existing state highway rights-of-way.
Energy companies, transmission developers, and utilities should monitor VDOT's work group formation and participation opportunities, as recommendations will shape future permitting pathways for transmission projects. Developers with projects in planning stages should review corridor strategies to align with the new prioritization policy. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
What to do next
- Monitor VDOT work group formation and participation opportunities for industry input
- Review current transmission project timelines against new corridor prioritization policy
- Assess regulatory and permitting process recommendations when published
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Virginia / HB889 Enacted HB889 House 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 SB 497.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB889
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Sponsors
Irene Shin (Rep - D) Michelle Maldonado (Rep - D) John Chilton McAuliff (Rep - D) J.J. Singh (Rep - D) Stacey Annie Carroll (Rep - D) Bill Wiley (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-03-31 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0028) 2026-03-31 Approved by Governor-Chapter 28 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-03-05 H Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB889) 2026-03-03 S Signed by President 2026-03-03 H Signed by Speaker 2026-03-03 H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB889ER) 2026-03-03 H Enrolled 2026-02-26 S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-26 S Read third time 2026-02-25 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-25 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-25 S Rules suspended 2026-02-23 S Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N) 2026-02-10 S Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor 2026-02-10 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) 2026-02-09 H Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-06 H Engrossed by House - committee substitute 2026-02-06 H committee substitute agreed to 2026-02-06 H Read second time 2026-02-05 H Read first time 2026-02-04 H Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB889) 2026-02-03 H Committee substitute printed 26106397D-H1 2026-02-03 H Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) 2026-01-29 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) 2026-01-29 H House subcommittee offered 2026-01-29 H Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB889) 2026-01-22 H Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 2026-01-13 H Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce 2026-01-13 H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105354D
Votes
2026-01-29 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-02-09 Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 98 Nay: 0 2026-02-03 Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) Yea: 22 Nay: 0 2026-02-23 Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N) Yea: 14 Nay: 0 2026-02-25 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-26 Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-13 H Labor and Commerce 2026-01-22 H Labor and Commerce: Subcommittee #3 2026-02-10 S Commerce and Labor
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-13 Introduced 2026-01-29 Comm Sub 2026-01-30 Comm Sub 2026-02-03 Comm Sub 2026-03-03 Enrolled 2026-03-31 Chaptered Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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