HB770Introduced in the House of Delegates
Public utilities; water and sewerage companies, discounted rates for low-income customers.
Introduced by Charniele Herring, District 4
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Public utilities; water and sewerage companies; discounted rates for low-income customers. Provides that a public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities may propose and the State Corporation Commission may approve rates and tariff provisions that provide discounted service to customers with an annual household income equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill permits the utility to recover the costs of providing such discounted service through its rates for commercial and industrial customers. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to SB 650.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0217)
April 6, 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 (24-Y 16-N 0-A) · February 26, 2026
24
Yes
16
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.
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 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 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103508D
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB770)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (15-Y 7-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106979D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB770)
Reported from Commerce and Labor (10-Y 5-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 (24-Y 16-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB770ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB770)
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor - Chapter 217 (effective 1/1/2027)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0217)
Verify the information
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