SB 697 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Solar and energy facilities; local regulation.

Summary
Solar and energy facilities; local regulation. Prohibits a locality from including in an ordinance (i) limits on the total amount, density, or size of any ground-mounted solar facility or energy storage facility until such time that the total area under panels within the locality exceeds four percent of the total area within the locality or (ii) any prohibitions on the use of solar panels that comply with generally accepted national environmental protection and product safety standards, provided that such installation is in compliance with any provisions of a local ordinance that establishes criteria and requirements for siting.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2024
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 19, 2024 Last action Nov 18, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2024

How they voted

2118
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Feb 12, 2024
D Democratic21
20 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
1 Yea 18 Nay
94% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Feb 27, 2024
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote)
lower
Feb 19, 2024
Committee
Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3
lower
Feb 15, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
lower
Feb 12, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
upper
Feb 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Amendments by Senator VanValkenburg agreed to
upper
Feb 9, 2024
Introduced
Reading of amendments waived
upper
Feb 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 8, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Jan 19, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Local Government
upper
Jan 19, 2024
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 24104547D
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Schuyler VanValkenburg
Schuyler VanValkenburg
DDemocratic
VA
16