HB 889 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Transmission lines, certain; Department of Transportation to identify opportunities for siting.

Summary
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 permitting processes to facilitate the expedient and efficient siting of new electrical transmission infrastructure in existing state highway rights-of-way. This bill is identical to SB 497.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 31, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally approved and assigned to Chapter 28 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly, with the approval date specified as March 31, 2026. The substantive policy language regarding the prioritization of existing corridors for new transmission lines remains unchanged.
TIMELINE

Added the specific approval date of March 31, 2026, and the formal chapter number (Chapter 28) to the bill's header.

Removed the generic 'Approved' text, replacing it with the specific date and chapter assignment.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 25, 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
31
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Mar 31, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 28 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB889ER)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors