Virginia HB508 defines agrivoltaics for small renewable energy projects
Summary
Virginia HB508 establishes a statutory definition of 'agrivoltaics' for small renewable energy projects. The bill was signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin on April 6, 2026, and becomes effective July 1, 2026. The legislation incorporates HB899 and aligns with identical SB340, creating a unified definition for solar installations co-located with agricultural operations in Virginia.
What changed
Virginia HB508 adds a formal statutory definition of 'agrivoltaics' to Virginia law for purposes of small renewable energy project regulation. The definition will govern how solar energy systems co-located with agricultural production are classified, permitted, and regulated under Virginia law.
Energy developers and agricultural operators undertaking combined solar-agriculture projects must ensure their projects meet the new statutory definition. Construction firms and agricultural firms engaged in agrivoltaic development should review project specifications to confirm compliance with the new classification requirements.
What to do next
- Review agrivoltaic project requirements against new statutory definition
- Update project classification procedures for solar installations on agricultural land
- Ensure compliance documentation reflects new definition by effective date
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Virginia / HB508 Signed by Governor HB508 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-06
Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.
Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition. Provides a definition of "agrivoltaics" for the purposes of small renewable energy projects. This bill incorporates HB 899 and is identical to SB 340.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB508
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Sponsors
John Chilton McAuliff (Rep - D) Amy Laufer (Rep - D) Irene Shin (Rep - D) Richard Sullivan (Rep - D) Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (Sen - D) Katrina Callsen (Rep - D) Betsy Carr (Rep - D) Nicole Cole (Rep - D) Rae Cousins (Rep - D) Dan Helmer (Rep - D) Karen Keys-Gamarra (Rep - D) Destiny LeVere Bolling (Rep - D) Briana Sewell (Rep - D) J.J. Singh (Rep - D) Kathy Tran (Rep - D) Wren Williams (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 156 (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 2026-03-06 S Signed by President 2026-03-06 H Signed by Speaker 2026-03-06 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB508) 2026-03-06 H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB508ER) 2026-03-06 H Enrolled 2026-03-02 S Passed Senate (28-Y 12-N 0-A) 2026-02-27 S Passed by for the day 2026-02-27 S Read third time 2026-02-26 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-26 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-26 S Rules suspended 2026-02-24 S Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y 4-N) 2026-02-23 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB508) 2026-02-12 S Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources 2026-02-12 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) 2026-02-11 H Read third time and passed House (66-Y 30-N 0-A) 2026-02-10 H Engrossed by House - committee substitute 2026-02-10 H committee substitute agreed to 2026-02-10 H Read second time 2026-02-09 H Read first time 2026-02-06 H Committee substitute printed 26107142D-H1 2026-02-05 H Incorporates HB899 (Shin) 2026-02-05 H Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N) 2026-02-03 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) 2026-02-03 H House subcommittee offered 2026-01-26 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB508) 2026-01-19 H Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 2026-01-12 H Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce 2026-01-12 H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105357D
Votes
2026-02-03 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-02-05 Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 7 2026-02-11 Read third time and passed House (66-Y 30-N 0-A) Yea: 66 Nay: 30 2026-02-24 Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y 4-N) Yea: 10 Nay: 4 2026-02-26 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-03-02 Passed Senate (28-Y 12-N 0-A) Yea: 28 Nay: 12
Committee Referrals
2026-01-12 H Labor and Commerce 2026-01-19 H Labor and Commerce: Subcommittee #3 2026-02-12 S Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-12 Introduced 2026-02-03 Comm Sub 2026-02-04 Comm Sub 2026-02-04 Comm Sub 2026-03-06 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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