SB 336 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.

Summary

State Corporation Commission; data center generators. Directs the State Corporation Commission to evaluate the impact of requiring data centers to limit the use of Tier 2 generators and prioritize the use of Tier 4 equivalent or better generators. The bill requires the Commission to submit a report on any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Appropriations and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources no later than October 15, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was transferred from the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee to the Finance and Appropriations Committee, changing its focus from directly regulating data center generators to requiring an impact evaluation. Instead of mandating immediate regulatory changes, the bill now directs the State Corporation Commission to study the environmental and fiscal impacts of generator restrictions before implementing them.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from direct regulatory action by the State Air Pollution Control Board to a study and evaluation mandate by the State Corporation Commission, delaying implementation until after the evaluation is completed.

SCOPE

The bill was transferred from the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee to the Finance and Appropriations Committee, changing the legislative sponsor's committee affiliation.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from directing the State Air Pollution Control Board to amend regulations to directing the State Corporation Commission to evaluate the impact of generator restrictions.

Added requirement for the State Corporation Commission to consider environmental and fiscal impacts, best practices from other states, and generator regulations across other industries including medical centers and universities.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed direct regulatory mandates requiring data centers to retrofit generators and limiting Tier 2 generator use; replaced with a requirement to study feasibility and impacts first.

TIMELINE

Added a deadline of October 15, 2026 for the State Corporation Commission to submit a report to relevant committee chairs.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 11, 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

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

lower

Mar 1, 2026

Committee

Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rules

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N 1-A)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (7-Y 5-N 1-A)

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors