The People's Ledger
← All Virginia bills

SB347Introduced in the Senate

Solar facilities; local regulation, permits, special exceptions.

Passed

Introduced by Schuyler VanValkenburg, District 16

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

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 HB 711.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1005)

April 22, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (18-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

18

Yes

18

No

4

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 French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104614D

  2. Referred to Committee on Local Government

  3. Senate committee offered

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Local Government with amendments (8-Y 5-N 1-A)

  6. Read first time

  7. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  8. Rules suspended

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

  10. Passed by for the day

  11. Read second time

  12. Passed by for the day

  13. Read second time

  14. Local Government Amendments agreed to

  15. Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  16. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  17. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A)

  18. Placed on Calendar

  19. Read first time

  20. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  21. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB347)

  22. House committee offered

  23. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  24. Committee substitute printed 26107959D-H1

  25. Read second time

  26. Read third time

  27. committee substitute agreed to

  28. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  29. Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

  30. Passed by for the day

  31. House substitute agreed to by Senate

  32. Enrolled

  33. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB347ER)

  34. Signed by Speaker

  35. Signed by President

  36. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB347)

  37. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

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

  39. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  40. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (18-Y 18-N 0-A)

  41. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

  42. Governor's recommendation adopted

  43. Reenrolled

  44. Reenrolled bill text (SB347ER2)

  45. Signed by Speaker

  46. Signed by President

  47. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1005 (effective 7/1/2026)

  48. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1005)

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.