HB711Introduced in the House of Delegates
Solar facilities; local regulation, permits, special exceptions.
Introduced by Charniele Herring, District 4
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Local regulation of solar facilities; special exceptions. Provides that a ground-mounted solar energy generation facility to be located on property zoned agricultural, commercial, industrial, or institutional shall be considered pursuant to various criteria to be included in a local ordinance, such as specifications for setbacks, fencing, solar panel height, visual impacts, grading, and a decommissioning plan for solar energy equipment and facilities, unless otherwise permitted by right. The bill requires localities to furnish the State Corporation Commission with a record of special exception decisions reached pursuant to these provisions that includes (i) the reason for any adverse decision, (ii) any finding of nonconformity with the local comprehensive plan, and (iii) the date of the last revision to the comprehensive plan. The bill further requires the State Corporation Commission to compile and maintain on the Commission's public website a searchable database of all solar special exception decisions and the reasons for any adverse decisions made over a period of not less than five years. Finally, the bill states that its provisions shall apply to any ground-mounted solar facility with a generating capacity of one megawatt or more for which an application for local approval is filed on or after July 1, 2026, and any such project shall not be governed by any local ordinances inconsistent with the bill; however, any application for a solar energy facility that has been received and accepted by the relevant authority prior to July 1, 2026, shall be subject to any applicable local ordinances in place at the time the initial application was filed. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 347.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1068)
April 22, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026
20
Yes
18
No
2
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 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | Absent |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104367D
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 5-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106588D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Reported from Local Government (9-Y 6-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB711ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
Governor's recommendation received by House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 35-N 0-A)
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (20-Y 18-N 0-A)
Governor's recommendation adopted
Reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (HB711ER2)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1068 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1068)
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