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HB242Introduced in the House of Delegates

Public utilities; budget plan payment increases.

Passed

Introduced by Joshua Cole, District 28

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Public utilities; budget plan payment increases. Prohibits a public utility from, for any residential customer who is enrolled in a budget plan, increasing the amount of such customer's monthly payment more than once within any 12-month period or without notifying the customer in writing at least 60 days before such increase takes effect. The bill defines "budget plan" as a fixed billing option offered by a public utility to a customer whereby the total service for the succeeding 12-month period is estimated in advance and bills are rendered monthly on the basis of one-twelfth of the 12-month estimate. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0373)

April 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate amendment agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A) · March 9, 2026

93

Yes

4

No

2

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Absent
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103219D

  2. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  3. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

  4. House subcommittee offered

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 1-N)

  6. Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

  7. Read first time

  8. Read second time

  9. committee amendments agreed to

  10. Engrossed by House as amended

  11. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB242)

  12. Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  14. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  15. Senate committee offered

  16. Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (12-Y 1-N)

  17. Rules suspended

  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  19. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  20. Read third time

  21. Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to

  22. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  23. Passed Senate with amendment (37-Y 2-N 0-A)

  24. Senate amendment agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)

  25. Enrolled

  26. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB242ER)

  27. Signed by Speaker

  28. Signed by President

  29. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  30. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  31. Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (3/25/2026 2:39 pm)

  32. Approved by Governor-Chapter 373 (effective 7/1/2026)

  33. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0373)

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