Virginia 2023 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 1944 — Solar photovoltaic projects; extension of land use approvals, extends sunset provision.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0499)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 24, 2023.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Failed a recorded vote

    Failed 6 recorded votes so far — a real headwind.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

15 added · 18 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill HB 1944 adds a new section that allows for the extension of land use approvals for solar energy projects in Virginia. Specifically, any permits that are valid as of July 1, 2023, can now be extended until July 1, 2026, or even longer if agreed upon by local authorities. This change is important because it provides developers with more time to start their solar projects, which can encourage investment in renewable energy and support Virginia's transition to cleaner energy sources.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2209.1:2, relating to N extension of land use approvals for solar photovoltaic projects.
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2023 SESSION CHAPTER 499 An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2209.1:2, relating to extension of land use approvals for solar photovoltaic projects.
R [H 1944] O Approved L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[H 1944] Approved March 24, 2023 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
L 1.
1.
E § 15.2-2209.1:2.
§ 15.2-2209.1:2.
D permit, or conditional use permit, or any modifications thereto, for a solar photovoltaic projectuse outstanding as of July 1, 2023, any deadline in the exception permit, or in the local zoning ordinance that requires the landowner or developer to commence the project within a certain time, may be agreed to by the locality.f the governing body until July 1, 2026, or such longer period as may be H 4 R
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, for any valid special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit, or any modifications thereto, for a solar photovoltaic project outstanding as of July 1, 2023, any deadline in the exception permit, or in the local zoning ordinance that requires the landowner or developer to commence the project within a certain time, may be extended by a resolution of the governing body until July 1, 2026, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the locality.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0499)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 499 (effective 7/1/23)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 27, 2023

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 2, 2023

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1944ER)

  8. Enrolled

  9. Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  10. Read third time

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  12. Reported from Local Government (14-Y 0-N)

  13. Referred to Committee on Local Government

  14. Constitutional reading dispensed

  15. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)

  16. Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)

  17. Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1944H1

  18. Committee substitute agreed to 23105749D-H1

  19. Read second time

  20. Read first time

  21. Committee substitute printed 23105749D-H1

  22. Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)

  24. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  25. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  26. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  27. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  28. Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #2

  29. Impact statement from DHCD/CLG (HB1944)

  30. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

  31. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/23 23103896D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

environment energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1944?
HB 1944 is sponsored by M. Keith Hodges.
What is the current status of HB 1944?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1944?
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