HB 285 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Distributed Energy Resources Task Force; created, membership, reports, sunset.

Summary

Distributed Energy Resources Task Force established; reports; sunset. Establishes the Distributed Energy Resources Task Force as an advisory commission within the executive branch with the purpose of developing a comprehensive strategy to advance the Commonwealth's transition toward integrated distributed energy resource markets and to support the Commonwealth's compliance with certain regulations. The bill describes the membership, powers, and duties of the Task Force and requires the Task Force to submit various reports to the Governor, the State Corporation Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 223.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Vetoed

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Vetoed Apr 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Rules Substitute → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 10, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift the Task Force from a Senate-led initiative to a Governor-led body with significantly expanded membership. The composition changed from 12 fixed members to a flexible group of 25-35 members, allowing the Governor to appoint representatives for various stakeholder groups. Additionally, the Task Force's duties were updated to include examining solar certificate options for high-demand customers, and the staff coordination responsibility was moved from the Department of Energy to the Governor's office.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a fixed 12-member advisory commission led by the Lieutenant Governor to a larger, flexible 25-35 member body led by the Governor, broadening stakeholder representation.

REQUIREMENT

Task Force membership changed from 12 fixed members to a flexible range of 25 to 35 members.

Leadership shifted from the Lieutenant Governor as chair to the Governor appointing all members.

Added a new duty to examine options for high-demand energy customers to purchase solar renewable energy certificates.

Staff coordination responsibility moved from the Department of Energy to the Governor's office.

Updated the Task Force's purpose description to explicitly mention the 'executive branch' instead of the Department of Energy.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Mar 9, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 11, 2026

Vetoed

Governor's recommendation received by House

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB285ER)

lower

Mar 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 3-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Senate requested conference committee

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Rules with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rules

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Rules with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (5-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

lower

Jan 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rules

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors