Conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required.
Summary
Conveyances of interests in real property; public hearing required. Requires localities disposing of any permanent easements or rights-of-way for the construction of (i) new electric transmission or distribution facilities of more than 69 kilovolts, (ii) data center operations or supporting electric transmission or distribution facilities of more than 69 kilovolts, or (iii) any commercial or industrial facility that requires electric service through facilities described in clause (i) to hold a public hearing prior to disposing of any such real property interest. The bill requires that such public hearing include a disclosure of the proposed use, anticipated impacts to the community and environment, and any alternative locations considered by the governing body. Finally, the bill mandates that no vote on any action intended to dispose of any real property interest may be taken until a public hearing is held.
Bill status
passed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Mar 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Commerce and Labor Substitute
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill was amended from its original introduction to a Commerce and Labor substitute version. The main substantive change narrows the public hearing requirement for real property dispositions related to electric transmission and data centers, adding a voltage threshold of more than 69 kilovolts and excluding maintenance or replacement of existing facilities. The formatting and page numbering were also updated to reflect the substitute version.
Scope change
The scope of the public hearing requirement was narrowed to apply only to new electric transmission facilities over 69 kilovolts and data centers requiring such high-voltage service, rather than all electric transmission or distribution facilities.
REQUIREMENT
Added a voltage threshold of more than 69 kilovolts for electric transmission and distribution facilities requiring a public hearing before disposition of easements or rights-of-way.
Added an exemption for maintenance or replacement of existing facilities, meaning no public hearing is required for such dispositions.
TECHNICAL
Updated formatting, page numbering, and header information to reflect the Commerce and Labor substitute version dated 2/12/2026.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026
How they voted
34–0
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 39
Feb 13, 2026
D
Democratic20
95% Yea
R
Republican19
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
6
Mar 9, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (20-0-1)
house of delegates
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 5-N)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Local Government and rereferred to Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Local Government
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Danica Roem
DDemocratic
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