SB497
Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting.
Status:
Enacted
Latest Action:
March 31, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029)
Chief Patron:
Russet Perry (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Policy of the Commonwealth; siting of certain new electric transmission facilities; Department of Transportation work group; report.
Provides that in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that existing linear infrastructure corridors shall be prioritized over new corridors. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to convene a work group to identify opportunities and develop recommendations to amend regulations and ... (More) permitting processes to facilitate the expedient and efficient siting of new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105270D
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/01/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26106400D-S1
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/17/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
- 02/19/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/19/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/19/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 02/23/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/24/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce (21-Y 1-N)
- 02/26/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/27/2026 - House: Read third time
- 02/27/2026 - House: Passed House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB497ER)
- 03/04/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- 03/24/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB497)
- 03/31/2026 - Approved by Governor-Chapter 29 (effective 7/1/2026)
- 03/31/2026 - Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029)
