SB651Introduced in the Senate
Underground electric distribution & transmission improvement; levy on utility customers by ordinance.
Introduced by Russet Perry, District 31
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Qualifying localities; underground electric distribution and transmission improvements; levy on utility customers by ordinance. Authorizes a qualifying locality, defined in the bill, to enter into an agreement with an electric utility to place new or proposed underground electric distribution or transmission lines and facilities or to relocate or convert existing overhead electric distribution or transmission lines and facilities underground. The bill requires any such agreement to provide that the locality pay to the utility its full additional costs of placing new or proposed electric distribution or transmission lines in the qualifying locality or relocating and converting that portion of a line located in the county underground rather than overhead, minus the net of relocation credits.The bill also provides that the qualifying locality may impose an additional levy on electric utility customers, which (i) shall not exceed $1 per month on residential customers; (ii) shall not exceed $10 per month on nonresidential customers; (iii) may be fixed at any amount on nonresidential customers that are major commercial energy consumers, defined in the bill; and (iv) shall be collected by the utility on behalf of the locality.
Where it stands
Failed to Pass from conference
March 14, 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 acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 12, 2026
40
Yes
0
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 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105147D
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (1/31/2026 8:22 am)
Senate committee offered
Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendments (11-Y 4-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Commerce and Labor Amendments agreed to
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (2/21/2026 3:41 pm)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 3-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (14-Y 7-N)
Committee substitute printed 26109186D-H1
Read second time
Passed by for the day
Read third time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
House insisted on substitute
House requested conference committee
Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Perry, Marsden, McDougle
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Singh, Sullivan, O'Quinn
Senate acceded to request
No further action taken
Failed to Pass from conference
Failed to Pass from conference
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