Virginia HB395: Solar Devices, Tenant Installation, Consumer Protection

LegiScan Virginia

Published January 1st, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

Virginia HB395 establishes rules for small portable solar generation devices, preventing localities from prohibiting their use on residential structures and restricting landlords from prohibiting tenant installation under certain conditions. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop a notification form and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group on safety standards, with certain provisions effective January 1, 2027.

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What changed

Virginia HB395, enacted in 2026, introduces new regulations concerning the installation and use of small portable solar generation devices on residential properties. The bill prohibits localities from banning these devices and prevents landlords from prohibiting their installation by tenants, provided specific requirements are met. It also clarifies that these devices are excluded from net metering programs for agricultural generators and prohibits utilities (investor-owned, municipal, or electric cooperatives) from imposing interconnection requirements, fees, or requiring pre-approval for installation or use. The State Corporation Commission is tasked with creating a notification form for customers, and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade will lead a work group to develop safety standards.

Compliance officers should note that certain provisions become effective on January 1, 2027. Utilities must update their policies regarding interconnection, fees, and approval processes for these devices. Property owners and managers need to review lease agreements and local ordinances to ensure compliance with tenant installation rights. The State Corporation Commission and Secretary of Commerce and Trade will be issuing further guidance and forms related to notification and safety standards, which will require monitoring and implementation.

What to do next

Review and update local ordinances to align with HB395 provisions on small portable solar generation devices.
Revise landlord policies and lease agreements to permit tenant installation of small portable solar generation devices under specified conditions.
Develop and implement notification procedures for electric utilities, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives regarding customer installation of small portable solar generation devices, as directed by the State Corporation Commission.

Source document (simplified)

VA HB395 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session

Virginia House Bill 395

VA State Legislature page for HB395
- Summary
- Sponsors
- Texts
- Votes
- Research
- Comments
- Track

Status

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: Enrolled on March 14 2026 - 75% progression
Action: 2026-03-25 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]

Summary

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection. Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form for a customer of an electric utility or cooperative to install a small portable solar generation device and directs the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group to evaluate and develop recommendations regarding the safety standards and requirements applicable to small portable solar generation devices. Certain provisions of the bill become effective on January 1, 2027. This bill incorporates HB 289 and HB 928 and is identical to SB 250.
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Title

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.

Roll Calls

2026-03-09 - House - Senate substitute agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A) (Y: 93 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-03-05 - Senate - Passed Senate with substitute (30-Y 8-N 1-A) (Y: 30 N: 8 NV: 1 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-04 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 39 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-03-02 - Senate - Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (10-Y 4-N) (Y: 10 N: 4 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - House - Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 98 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-02-04 - House - Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) (Y: 97 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - House - Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (Y: 22 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-01-27 - House - Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) (Y: 7 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]

History

| Date | Chamber | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-25 | | Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026 |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395) |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Signed by President |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Signed by Speaker |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB395ER) |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute (30-Y 8-N 1-A) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Reading of substitute waived |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Floor substitute printed 26109146D-S2 (Surovell) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Read third time |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395) |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Committee substitute printed 26108918D-S1 |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (10-Y 4-N) |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Senate committee offered |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Senate committee offered |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-02-03 | House | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-01 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395) |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Committee substitute printed 26106434D-H1 |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Incorporates HB928 (Lopez) |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Incorporates HB289 (Anderson) |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 0-N) |
| 2026-01-27 | House | House subcommittee offered |
| 2026-01-19 | House | Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB395) |
| 2026-01-19 | House | Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3 |
| 2026-01-12 | House | Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce |
| 2026-01-12 | House | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104795D |

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