HB1491Introduced in the House of Delegates
Electric utilities; construction of new overhead transmission lines, siting requirements.
Introduced by J.J. Singh, District 26
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines; siting requirements. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in order to approve the construction of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to determine that the corridor or route chosen for the line will avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impact to the greatest extent reasonably practicable on dwelling houses. For overhead transmission lines of 500 kilovolts or more constructed by Dominion Energy Virginia, the bill directs the Commission to prioritize approving corridors or routes for construction for which the center is located farther than 150 feet from any dwelling house, public or private school building, day care, or place of worship unless no other practicable alternative exists.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0866)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) · March 12, 2026
39
Yes
1
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Presented and ordered printed 26104454D
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (17-Y 5-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107224D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)
Read third time
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1491ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 866 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0866)
Verify the information
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