2024 Priority Legislation

of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition

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Climate

Campaign Finance

Passed House & Senate

Vetoed

Approved by Gov

Gov made recommendations

Cat	Number	Title	Patron	House	Senate	GA	Governor	updated
2024 Priority Bills Climate & Clean Energy
climate	HB 106 Support	Shared solar programs; amends existing program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia. more... Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a minimum bill, below which a subscriber's net bill cannot go, that is calculated based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility. The bill also changes the shared solar program capacity to at least 10 percent of each utility's adjusted Virginia peak load and requires the Commission's regulations to allow for program participation by all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes. ...	Sullivan (D)	Passed (54-Y 44-N)	Passed 22-17	Enrolled	Approved Effective 7/1/24	4/9/24
climate	HB 107 Support	Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; established and created. more... Creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in certain localities. The bill provides that a private developer is eligible to receive grants of 70 percent of such non-utility costs for electric vehicle charging stations installed in a city or county that meets the criteria of a distressed locality, as defined in the bill, and caps the total amount of grants awarded in any fiscal year at $25 million.	Sullivan (D)	Passed (71-Y 27-N)	Passed (28-Y 12-N)	CC Report Rejected		3/11/24
climate	HB 116 Support	Retail Sales and Use tax; exemption for data centers. more... Requires data center operators to meet certain energy efficiency standards in order to be eligible for the sales and use tax exemption for data center purchases. Under the bill, a data center operator shall be eligible for the exemption only if such operator demonstrates that (i) its facilities either (a) have a power usage effectiveness score of no greater than 1.2 or (b) for data centers co-located in buildings with other commercial uses, achieve an energy efficiency level of no less than the most efficient 15 percent of similar buildings constructed in the previous five years and (ii) it will procure carbon-free renewable energy and associated renewable energy certificates from facilities equal to 90 percent of its electricity requirements or that its electricity will be otherwise derived from non-carbon-emitting, renewable sources.	Sullivan (D)	Tabled to 2025				4/9/24
climate	HB 117 Support	Net energy metering; solar interconnection, cost recovery. more... Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay 33 cents ($0.33) per kilowatt-hour per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering. ...	Sullivan (D)	Failed Labor & Commerce sub3 5-5				2/9/24
climate	HB 118 Support	Electric utilities; cost recovery for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. more... Requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power, by May 1, 2025, to (i) file a proposal with the State Corporation Commission to design and deploy all electrical distribution infrastructure on the utility side of a customer%92s meter for each customer installing separately metered infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging stations, other than those in single-family residences; (ii) file an application with the Commission to accelerate widespread transportation electrification across the Commonwealth in a manner designed to lower total ratepayer costs and that significantly contributes to meeting air quality standards and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the objectives of the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law; ...	Sullivan (D)	Failed Labor & Commerce sub 4-6				2/8/24
climate	HB 638 Support	[ARC] Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc.. more... Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. ...	Sullivan (D)	Tabled Labor & Commerce				3/11/24
climate	HB 746 Support	[SAVE] Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings. more... Provides that it is in the public interest and the policy of the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs and energy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achieve the greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. The bill permits the State Corporation Commission to increase or decrease an investor-owned electric utility's combined rate of return based on the utility's success in complying with energy efficiency program targets in existing law. ...	Webert (R)	Passed (90-Y 7-N)	Passed (21-Y 18-N)	Gov Rec Adopted	Enacted (effective 7/1/24)	4/23/24
climate	HB 1456 Support	Solar-ready roofs for certain government buildings; net-zero energy consumption building design. more... Requires any executive branch agency or institution and any locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, to ensure that such building includes a solar-ready, cool, or energy-efficient roof, defined in the bill.	Carr (D)	Tabled Finance sub 2				2/9/24
climate	HJ 30 Support	[PBUR] Study; State Corporation Commission; electric utilities; performance-based regulatory tools; report. more... Requests the State Corporation Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to study performance-based regulatory tools for investor-owned electric utilities in the Commonwealth.	Sullivan (D)	Passed (97-Y 0-N)	Passed w Substitute	CC Report Accepted		3/11/24
climate	HJ 36 Support	Clean energy; Dept. of Energy to study barriers for local governments to purchase. more... Requests the Department of Energy to study the barriers for local governments to directly purchase clean energy or to facilitate the purchase of clean energy by their constituents...	Sewell (D)	Tabled Continued to 2025 by Rules Comm				4/9/24
climate	SB 79 Support	Solar-ready roofs for certain gov't bldgs more... Requires any executive branch agency or institution and any locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size, or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building, to ensure that such building includes a solar-ready, cool, or energy-efficient roof, defined in the bill. The bill also requires new public school buildings and facilities and improvements and renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building to, after notice is given to the governing body, be designed and constructed to meet net-zero energy consumption standards. The provisions of this bill only apply to projects entering the design phase on or after January 1, 2025.	Favola (D)	Tabled Appropriations (22-Y, 0-N)	Passed (22 - Y, 17-N)			4/3/24
climate	SB 192 Support	Sales and use tax exemption; data centers. more... Requires data center operators to meet certain energy efficiency standards in order to be eligible for the sales and use tax exemption for data center purchases. Under the bill, a data center operator shall be eligible for the exemption only if such operator demonstrates that (i) its facilities either (a) have a power usage effectiveness score of no greater than 1.2 or (b) for data centers co-located in buildings with other commercial uses, achieve an energy efficiency level of no less than the most efficient 15 percent of similar buildings constructed in the previous five years and (ii) it will procure carbon-free renewable energy and associated renewable energy certificates from facilities equal to 90 percent of its electricity requirements or that its electricity will be otherwise derived from non-carbon-emitting, renewable sources.	Subramanyam (D)		Tabled Continued to 2025 in Finance & Approps			4/9/24
climate	SB 230 Support	[ARC] Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs, duty to implement the Energy Policy, etc.. more... Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. ...	Hashmi (D)		Tabled Continued to 2025 by Commerce & Labor			4/9/24
climate	SB 253 Support	Shared solar programs; amends existing program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia. more... Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. ...	Surovell (D)	Passed (51-Y 47-N)	Passed (23-Y 17-N)	Enrolled	Approved Effective 7/1/24	4/9/24
climate	SB 346 Support	Net energy metering; solar interconnection, cost recovery. more... Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay $1 per kilowatt per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering.	Subramanyam (D)		Tabled Continued to 2025 by Commerce & Labor			4/9/24
climate	SB 457 Support	Driving Decarbonization Program and Fund; established and created. more... Creates the Driving Decarbonization Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. ...	Marsden (D)		Tabled Continued to 2025 by Finance & Approps			4/9/24
climate	SB 565 Support	[SAVE] Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings. more... Provides that it is in the public interest and the policy of the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs and energy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achieve the greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. ...	Deeds (D)	Passed w. substitute (86-12)	Passed w. substitute (21-Y 18-N)	Gov Rec Adopted	Enacted (effective 7/1/24)	4/23/24
climate	SB 737 Support	Energy efficiency programs. more...	Surovell (D)	Passed w. substitute (50-Y 46-N)	Passed w. substitute (21-Y 19-N)	Enrolled	Approved Effective 7/1/24	4/9/24
climate	HB 3 Oppose	State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more... Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. The bill prohibits the Board from adopting or enforcing any model year standards related to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines, including low-emission vehicle and zero-emission vehicle standards pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act and prohibits the Commonwealth from requiring any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine to be certified as compliant with model year standards related to the control of emissions adopted by California for which a waiver has been granted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act.	Wilt (R)	Tabled Labor & Commerce				2/8/24
climate	HB 7 Oppose	State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations, low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more... Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards that apply for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.	Fowler (R)	Left Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources				2/13/24
climate	HB 397 Oppose	Regulation of electric utilities; development of renewable energy facilities; powers. more... Repeals provisions (i) requiring the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from any electricity generating unit in the Commonwealth and authorizing the Board to establish an auction program for energy allowances; (ii) prohibiting the State Corporation Commission from approving any new utility-owned generation facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of energy generation, in certain circumstances; (iii) declaring that statutory allowances for energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, offshore wind, and storage facilities are in the public interest; and (iv) relating to the development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity, ...	Griffin (R)	Tabled Labor & Commerce				2/8/24
climate	SB 3 Oppose	State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations, low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. more... Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards that apply for vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.	Stuart (R)		PBI Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources			3/11/24
climate	SB 53 Oppose	State Air Pollution Control Board; motor vehicle emissions standards. more... Repeals the requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement a low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later. The bill prohibits the Board from adopting or enforcing any model year standards related to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines, including low-emission vehicle and zero-emission vehicle standards pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act and prohibits the Commonwealth from requiring any new motor vehicle or new motor vehicle engine to be certified as compliant with model year standards related to the control of emissions adopted by California for which a waiver has been granted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act.	McDougle (R)		PBI Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources			1/30/24
climate	SB 454 Oppose	Electric utilities; recovery of development costs associated with small modular reactor. more... Permits American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia to petition the State Corporation Commission at any time for the approval of a rate adjustment clause for the recovery of small modular reactor project development costs for up to one small modular reactor facility. The bill also permits the utility to petition the Commission for project development cost recovery along separate development phases.	Marsden (D)	Passed (52-Y 44-N 1-A)	Passed (20-Y 16-N)	Gov Rec Adopted	Enacted (effective 7/1/24)	4/23/24

No. of bills: 24

General info

2024 Session dates

Jan 10: Session begins
Jan 19: Last day to introduce bills
Feb 13: Crossover*
Mar 7: Last day to act on remaining bills
Mar 9: Session adjourns
April 17-24: Reconvened session

House Meeting Schedule
Senate Meeting Schedule

Overriding a Veto

"The Governor may veto the bill if he objects to it by returning the bill with his objections to the house in which the bill originated. The house shall enter the objections in its journal and reconsider the bill. The house may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If the house of origin overrides the Governor's veto, it shall send the bill and Governor's objections to the other house where the bill shall be reconsidered. The second house may override the Governor's veto by a two-thirds vote of the members present, which two-thirds shall include a majority of the members elected to that house. If both houses override the Governor's veto, the bill shall become law without his signature. If either house fails to override the Governor's veto, the veto shall stand and the bill shall not become law." -Virginia Constitution

Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to the Virginia Constitution require that a resolution be passed by a majority of both houses during a session and then held over to be passed again by the next elected legislature, with an election intervening between the two approvals. If it succeeds the second time, voters must approve the change in a referendum before it can take effect.

Glossary

Dillon Rule. Restricts local government authority to enact ordinances.

Conference Committee. A temporary committee w. members from both the House and Senate, tasked with reconciling differences in legislation that passed both chambers.

Continued/Carried over. Action taken in an even-numbered year to postpone the consideration of a measure until the next regular session of the General Assembly.

Crossover. The last day for a bill to pass out of the chamber in which it was introduced and move forward for consideration in the opposite chamber. If a bill does not move forward, it is "Left" (dead).

Engrossed. A legislative stage when a bill passes the second reading in the House of origin. Every bill has to be "read" on the floor three times before voting on it. The action or any debate or discussion usually comes on the day of the second reading or the third reading.

Enrolled. Legislation which has passed both the House of Delegates and the Senate, signed by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, sent to the Governor, but not yet signed.

Failed to report. Defeated. The rejection of a motion to 'report' a bill to the full chamber.

Incorporated. Rolled into someone another bill. Either because they're identical, or they have incorporated *some* of the language in, and the patron agreed to have her name on the other bill.

Patron. Bill sponsor. There can be many patrons.

PBI. Passed by Indefinitely. Action to allow a committee to reconsider legislation at a later meeting. If the committee takes no further action, the bill is dead. [Usually the bill is dead.]

Referred. The assignment of legislation to another standing committee with no stance on the policy of the measure (neither endorses nor rejects the legislation).

Reported. The approval of a measure by the majority of the committee. The legislation may be reported by the committee with or without amendments. A bill may also be reported and referred to another committee.

Stricken. Legislation removed from a committee's docket, frequently at the request of the patron.

More definitions from League of Women Voters Virginia
More definitions from University of Virginia