The People's Ledger
← All Virginia bills

SB250Introduced in the Senate

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

Passed

Introduced by Scott Surovell, District 34

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

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, or his designee, 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 is identical to HB 395.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0998)

April 22, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 12-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

27

Yes

12

No

1

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

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104605D

  2. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (11-Y 1-N 2-A)

  6. Committee substitute printed 26107516D-S1

  7. Rules suspended

  8. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  9. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

  11. Floor substitute printed 26107821D-S2 (Surovell)

  12. Read second time

  13. Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

  14. Floor offered Senator Surovell Substitute

  15. Reading of substitute waived (Voice Vote)

  16. Senator Surovell Substitute agreed to

  17. Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute (Voice Vote)

  18. Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 7-N 1-A)

  19. Placed on Calendar

  20. Read first time

  21. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

  23. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

  24. House subcommittee offered

  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N)

  26. Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (20-Y 1-N)

  27. Committee substitute printed 26108925D-H1

  28. Read second time

  29. Passed by for the day

  30. Read third time

  31. committee substitute agreed to

  32. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  33. Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  34. House substitute agreed to by Senate (29-Y 11-N 0-A)

  35. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

  36. Enrolled

  37. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB250ER)

  38. Signed by President

  39. Signed by Speaker

  40. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

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

  42. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB250)

  43. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  44. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (27-Y 12-N 0-A)

  45. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (93-Y 3-N 0-A)

  46. Governor's recommendation adopted

  47. Reenrolled bill text (SB250ER2)

  48. Signed by Speaker

  49. Signed by President

  50. Approved by Governor-Chapter 998 (Effective - see bill)

  51. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0998)

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.