AN ACT REQUIRING SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE FARMLAND RESTORATION BONDS FOR BOTH PETITION AND APPLICATION PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL.
HB 5916 requires solar developers to provide financial bonds for farmland restoration before projects are approved by the Siting Council. This applies to all solar projects on farmland, whether submitted as petitions or formal applications. The bonds ensure funds are available to restore the land to agricultural use after the solar project ends. The bill directly affects solar developers seeking approval for farmland-based projects in the state. It became law after the governor signed it on July 8, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Signed Jul 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Committee Bill
→
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renamed from a Committee Bill to a Substitute Bill and now carries an ENV Joint Favorable Substitute designation, indicating it has passed committee review with favorable amendments. The substantive policy language regarding solar facility certificates and farmland restoration bonds remains largely unchanged, though the formatting and versioning information was updated to reflect its current legislative status.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; only administrative and formatting updates reflecting its progression through the legislative process.
TECHNICAL
Bill title changed from Committee Bill No. 5916 to Substitute Bill No. 5916 with updated LCO number and session information.
Header information updated to reflect 'ENV Joint Favorable Subst.' status instead of original introduction by (ENV) designation.
Page numbering and formatting of legislative council of officers (LCO) headers were updated to match substitute bill standards.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2025 · House Jun 3, 2025
How they voted
36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
Jun 4, 2025
D
Democratic25
100% Yea
R
Republican11
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Jul 8, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
lower
Jun 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
SENATE PASSED
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Environment
lower
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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