SB256Introduced in the Senate
Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.
Introduced by Jeremy McPike, District 29
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Minimum energy and water conservation standards; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning facilities and home appliances; Department of Energy; prohibited practices; penalty. Provides that if any product or product categories under the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (the EPCA) are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department of Energy shall adopt energy or water conservation standards that shall be equivalent to the last applicable federal standards with a product compliance date of on or before December 31, 2025. The bill prohibits any such new products from being sold, offered for sale, leased, or rented in the Commonwealth unless such products meet or exceed such standards. The bill excludes any energy or water conservation standards set aside by a court or any product if federal law preempts the application of the minimum energy and water conservation standards to such a product, including any product or product categories where there is a requirement to develop a standard under the EPCA.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0999)
April 22, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026
21
Yes
18
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
| 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 26100892D
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Senate committee offered
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107427D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day
Read second time
Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 6-N)
Read second time
Read third time
Passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB256ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Governor's recommendation received by Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A)
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Governor's recommendation adopted
Reenrolled
Reenrolled bill text (SB256ER2)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Approved by Governor-Chapter 999 (Effective - see bill)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0999)
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