Bill Commons

VA HB 242

enacted

Public utilities; budget plan payment increases.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 242 pass?

Yes. VA HB 242 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-08): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0373)

What is VA HB 242 about?

Public utilities; budget plan payment increases. Prohibits a public utility from, for any residential customer who is enrolled in a budget plan, increasing the amount of such customer's monthly payment more than once within any 12-month period or without notifying the customer in writing at least 60 days before such increase takes effect. The bill defines "budget plan" as a fixed billing option offered by a public utility to a customer whereby the total service for the succeeding 12-month period is estimated in advance and bills are rendered monthly on the basis of one-twelfth of the 12-month estimate. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities.

Who sponsors VA HB 242?

Joshua G. Cole is the primary sponsor of VA HB 242, joined by 13 cosponsors.

Description

Public utilities; budget plan payment increases. Prohibits a public utility from, for any residential customer who is enrolled in a budget plan, increasing the amount of such customer's monthly payment more than once within any 12-month period or without notifying the customer in writing at least 60 days before such increase takes effect. The bill defines "budget plan" as a fixed billing option offered by a public utility to a customer whereby the total service for the succeeding 12-month period is estimated in advance and bills are rendered monthly on the basis of one-twelfth of the 12-month estimate. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any public utility engaged in the business of furnishing water or sewerage facilities.

Introduced
2026-01-08
Latest action
2026-04-08 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0373)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Joshua G. Coleprimary
  • Charlie Schmidtcosponsor
  • Sam Rasoulcosponsor
  • Adele Y. McClurecosponsor
  • Michelle Lopes Maldonadocosponsor
  • Amy J. Laufercosponsor
  • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor
  • Saddam Azlan Salimcosponsor
  • Nicole Colecosponsor
  • Stacey Annie Carrollcosponsor
  • Jessica L. Andersoncosponsor
  • Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-08

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0373)

  2. 2026-04-08

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 373 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-25

    Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (3/25/2026 2:39 pm)

  4. 2026-03-25

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

    executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-25

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  6. 2026-03-14

    Signed by President

    passage

  7. 2026-03-14

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  8. 2026-03-14

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB242ER)

    passage

  9. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  10. 2026-03-09

    Senate amendment agreed to by House (93-Y 4-N 0-A)

    amendment-passage

  11. 2026-03-05

    Passed Senate with amendment (37-Y 2-N 0-A)

    passage

  12. 2026-03-05

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  13. 2026-03-05

    Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  14. 2026-03-05

    Read third time

    reading-3

  15. 2026-03-04

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-03-04

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-03-04

    Rules suspended

  18. 2026-03-02

    Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (12-Y 1-N)

    committee-passage

  19. 2026-03-02

    Senate committee offered

  20. 2026-01-29

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    referral-committee

  21. 2026-01-29

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  22. 2026-01-28

    Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  23. 2026-01-27

    Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB242)

  24. 2026-01-27

    Engrossed by House as amended

  25. 2026-01-27

    committee amendments agreed to

    amendment-passage

  26. 2026-01-27

    Read second time

    reading-2

  27. 2026-01-26

    Read first time

    reading-1

  28. 2026-01-22

    Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  29. 2026-01-20

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 1-N)

  30. 2026-01-20

    House subcommittee offered

  31. 2026-01-15

    Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

    referral-committee

  32. 2026-01-08

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    referral-committee

  33. 2026-01-08

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103219D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

    2026-01-20 · pass · 8-1

    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: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Wren M. Williams: yes

  • Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s)

    2026-01-22 · pass · 22-0

    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: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-01-28 · pass · 97-0

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: not voting
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: yes

  • Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment

    2026-03-02 · pass · 12-1

    Member-level votes (15)
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: not voting
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: not voting
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-04 · pass · 39-0

    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: 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: not voting
    • 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

    2026-03-05 · pass · 37-2

    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: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • 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

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-09 · pass · 93-4

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: yes
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: not voting
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: not voting
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Joseph P. McNamara: yes
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • Eric Phillips: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: yes
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
    • Wendell S. Walker: yes
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB242

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

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