Bill Commons

VA SB 659

enacted

Solar Interconnection Grant Program; established, report, sunset.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did VA SB 659 pass?

Yes. VA SB 659 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0660)

What is VA SB 659 about?

Solar Interconnection Grant Fund and Program established; report; sunset. Establishes the Solar Interconnection Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to public bodies to offset costs associated with the interconnection of solar facilities to the grid. The Program is administered by the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. The bill requires that priority be given to solar facilities located on previously developed project sites and requires the Division to establish and publish guidelines and criteria for the awarding of grants and general requirements of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and, as introduced, was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 683.

Who sponsors VA SB 659?

Christie New Craig is the primary sponsor of VA SB 659, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

Solar Interconnection Grant Fund and Program established; report; sunset. Establishes the Solar Interconnection Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to public bodies to offset costs associated with the interconnection of solar facilities to the grid. The Program is administered by the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. The bill requires that priority be given to solar facilities located on previously developed project sites and requires the Division to establish and publish guidelines and criteria for the awarding of grants and general requirements of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and, as introduced, was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to HB 683.

Introduced
2026-01-14
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0660)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Christie New Craigprimary
  • Jennifer D. Carroll Foycosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-13

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0660)

  2. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 660 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-10

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

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-05

    Signed by President

    passage

  6. 2026-03-05

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  7. 2026-03-05

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659)

  8. 2026-03-05

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB659ER)

    passage

  9. 2026-03-05

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  10. 2026-03-02

    Passed House (84-Y 15-N 0-A)

    passage

  11. 2026-03-02

    Read third time

    reading-3

  12. 2026-03-02

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  13. 2026-02-27

    Read second time

    reading-2

  14. 2026-02-25

    Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    committee-passage

  15. 2026-02-25

    Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-02-20

    Referred to Committee on Appropriations

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-20

    Read first time

    reading-1

  18. 2026-02-20

    Placed on Calendar

  19. 2026-02-18

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659)

  20. 2026-02-16

    Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 8-N 1-A)

    passage,reading-3

  21. 2026-02-13

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

    substitution

  22. 2026-02-13

    Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  23. 2026-02-13

    Read second time

    reading-2

  24. 2026-02-13

    Committee substitute printed 26107816D-S1

    substitution

  25. 2026-02-12

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  26. 2026-02-12

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  27. 2026-02-12

    Rules suspended

  28. 2026-02-11

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (12-Y 2-N 1-A)

    committee-passage

  29. 2026-02-09

    Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)

    committee-passage

  30. 2026-02-08

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659)

  31. 2026-01-30

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB659)

  32. 2026-01-14

    Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

    referral-committee

  33. 2026-01-14

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104604D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Commerce and Labor

    2026-02-09 · pass · 12-3

    Member-level votes (15)
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
  • Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

    2026-02-11 · pass · 12-2

    Member-level votes (15)
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: abstain
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed R

    2026-02-12 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: 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
    • Adam P. Ebbin: 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: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Passage R

    2026-02-16 · pass · 30-8

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: not voting
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • 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: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • 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.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: abstain
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
  • Reported from Appropriations

    2026-02-25 · pass · 22-0

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • James W. Morefield: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Scott A. Wyatt: yes
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-02 · pass · 84-15

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • 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.: 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: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • 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: no
    • Justin Pence: yes
    • 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
    • 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: no
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

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

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

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