VA HB 1491
enactedElectric utilities; construction of new overhead transmission lines, siting requirements.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did VA HB 1491 pass?
Yes. VA HB 1491 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 866 (effective 7/1/2026)
What is VA HB 1491 about?
Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines; siting requirements. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in order to approve the construction of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to determine that the corridor or route chosen for the line will avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impact to the greatest extent reasonably practicable on dwelling houses. For overhead transmission lines of 500 kilovolts or more constructed by Dominion Energy Virginia, the bill directs the Commission to prioritize approving corridors or routes for construction for which the center is located farther than 150 feet from any dwelling house, public or private school building, day care, or place of worship unless no other practicable alternative exists.
Who sponsors VA HB 1491?
JJ Singh is the primary sponsor of VA HB 1491, joined by 8 cosponsors.
Description
Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines; siting requirements. Requires the State Corporation Commission, in order to approve the construction of an electrical transmission line of 138 kilovolts or more, to determine that the corridor or route chosen for the line will avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impact to the greatest extent reasonably practicable on dwelling houses. For overhead transmission lines of 500 kilovolts or more constructed by Dominion Energy Virginia, the bill directs the Commission to prioritize approving corridors or routes for construction for which the center is located farther than 150 feet from any dwelling house, public or private school building, day care, or place of worship unless no other practicable alternative exists.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-23
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 866 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- JJ Singhprimary
- Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
- Nicole Colecosponsor
- Joshua G. Colecosponsor
- Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
- Danica A. Roemcosponsor
- John Chilton McAuliffcosponsor
- Stacey Annie Carrollcosponsor
- Kannan Srinivasancosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 866 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
2026-04-06
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
2026-03-31
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-30
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-30
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1491ER)
passage
2026-03-30
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-12
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-12
Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-11
Passed by for the day
2026-03-11
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-10
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
2026-03-10
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-10
Rules suspended
2026-03-09
Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-03-09
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
2026-02-17
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
referral-committee
2026-02-17
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-16
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-13
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
substitution
2026-02-13
committee substitute agreed to
substitution
2026-02-13
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-12
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-10
Committee substitute printed 26107224D-H1
substitution
2026-02-10
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (17-Y 5-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-05
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 2-N)
substitution
2026-02-05
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-29
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1491)
2026-01-28
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
referral-committee
2026-01-23
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
referral-committee
2026-01-23
Presented and ordered printed 26104454D
introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
2026-02-05 · pass · 6-2
Member-level votes (9)
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: not voting
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Wren M. Williams: no
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute
2026-02-10 · pass · 17-5
Member-level votes (22)
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Wren M. Williams: yes
H VOTE:
2026-02-16 · pass · 62-35
Member-level votes (100)
- Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: no
- Jason S. Ballard: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: no
- Nadarius E. Clark: not voting
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: no
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: no
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: no
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: no
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: no
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: no
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: no
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
- Joseph P. McNamara: no
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: no
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: no
- Israel D. O'Quinn: no
- Justin Pence: no
- Eric Phillips: no
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: no
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: no
- Holly M. Seibold: yes
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: no
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
- Wendell S. Walker: no
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: no
- Vivian E. Watts: not voting
- Michael J. Webert: no
- Madison Whittle: no
- Bill Wiley: no
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: no
- Tony O. Wilt: no
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
- Scott A. Wyatt: no
- Eric R. Zehr: no
Reported from Commerce and Labor
2026-03-09 · pass · 15-0
Member-level votes (15)
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-03-10 · pass · 37-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: not voting
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: not voting
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: not voting
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-03-12 · pass · 39-1
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
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