HB711
Solar facilities; local regulation, special exceptions.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Charniele Herring (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 ... (More) 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. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104367D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- 01/28/2026 - House: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/28/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 01/29/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 5-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26106588D-H1
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/04/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/04/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/04/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/05/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/05/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB711)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Local Government
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Local Government (9-Y 6-N)
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 03/11/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB711ER)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/12/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/14/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
- 03/14/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
