HB 324 — Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; established and created.

Summary

Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund created. 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 (i) in certain localities; (ii) on eligible public land, as defined in the bill; or (iii) within one mile of the boundary of eligible public land. The bill provides that a private developer may apply for a grant in an amount equal to 70 percent of the private developer's non-utility costs for the installation of such public electric vehicle charging stations. The awarding of a grant under the Program is conditional upon an agreement with the applicant that any cost of a project not funded by a grant awarded by the Program be funded by non-federal funds. The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish guidelines for the administration of the Program, including guidelines related to the application for and award of grants. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2031.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 2 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 45.2-1735, 45.2-1736.

• 45.2-1735

  A. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

  Inserts “A. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Eligible public land" means

  Inserts “"Eligible public land" means”.

• 45.2-1735

  (i)

  Inserts “(i)”.

• 45.2-1735

  Virginia

  Inserts “Virginia”.

• 45.2-1735

  sta

  Inserts “sta”.

• 45.2-1735

  te

  Inserts “te”.

• 45.2-1735

  p

  Inserts “p”.

• 45.2-1735

  arks operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation;

  Inserts “arks operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation;”.

• 45.2-1735

  (ii)

  Inserts “(ii)”.

• 45.2-1735

  national parks

  Inserts “national parks”.

• 45.2-1735

  located in the Commonwealth and

  Inserts “located in the Commonwealth and”.

• 45.2-1735

  operated by the U.S. National Park Service; and

  Inserts “operated by the U.S. National Park Service; and”.

• 45.2-1735

  (iii)

  Inserts “(iii)”.

• 45.2-1735

  national forests

  Inserts “national forests”.

• 45.2-1735

  located in the Commonwealth and

  Inserts “located in the Commonwealth and”.

• 45.2-1735

  operated by the U.S. Forest Service.

  Inserts “operated by the U.S. Forest Service.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Fund" means the

  Inserts “"Fund" means the”.

• 45.2-1735

  Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Fund established pursuant to

  Inserts “Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Fund established pursuant to”.

• 45.2-1735

  §

  Inserts “§”.

• 45.2-1735

  45.2-1737.

  Inserts “45.2-1737.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Non-utility costs" means all costs related to electrical service equipment not owned and operated by a utility, including distribution sections of the main electrical switchgear, electrical feeders, breakers, conduits, secondary cables, electric vehicle service equipment, equipment foundations, and any associated civil construction such as driveways, sidewalks, surface markings, ramps, and vehicular barriers.

  Inserts “"Non-utility costs" means all costs related to electrical service equipment not owned and operated by a utility, including distribution sections of the main electrical switchgear, electrical feeders, breakers, conduits, secondary cables, electric vehicle service equipment, equipment foundations, and any associated civil construction such as driveways, sidewalks, surface markings, ramps, and vehicular barriers.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Non-utility costs" does not include any costs related to utility-owned and utility-operated electrical equipment between the main overhead or underground power lines and the customer electrical revenue meter.

  Inserts “"Non-utility costs" does not include any costs related to utility-owned and utility-operated electrical equipment between the main overhead or underground power lines and the customer electrical revenue meter.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Program" means the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program established pursuant to

  Inserts “"Program" means the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program established pursuant to”.

• 45.2-1735

  §

  Inserts “§”.

• 45.2-1735

  45.2-1736.

  Inserts “45.2-1736.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Rural and underserved locality" means a county in the Commonwealth with a population density of less than 160 people per square mile or an independent city regardless of density that had (i) an annual unemployment rate that was greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year for which data is available and (ii) an annual poverty rate that exceeded the statewide average poverty rate for the most recent calendar year for which data is available.

  Inserts “"Rural and underserved locality" means a county in the Commonwealth with a population density of less than 160 people per square mile or an independent city regardless of density that had (i) an annual unemployment rate that was greater than the final statewide average unemployment rate for the most recent calendar year for which data is available and (ii) an annual poverty rate that exceeded the statewide average poverty rate for the most recent calendar year for which data is available.”.

• 45.2-1735

  "Uptime" means

  Inserts “"Uptime" means”.

• 45.2-1735

  time

  Inserts “time”.

• 45.2-1735

  when a charging station's hardware and software are both online and available for use, or in use, and the

  Inserts “when a charging station's hardware and software are both online and available for use, or in use, and the”.

• 45.2-1735

  station

  Inserts “station”.

• 45.2-1735

  successfully dispenses electricity in accordance with requirements for minimum power level

  Inserts “successfully dispenses electricity in accordance with requirements for minimum power level”.

• 45.2-1735

  .

  Inserts “.”.

• 45.2-1736

  A. There is hereby established the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program to assist private developers with non-utility costs

  Inserts “A. There is hereby established the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program to assist private developers with non-utility costs”.

• 45.2-1736

  incurred for

  Inserts “incurred for”.

• 45.2-1736

  the installation of public electric vehicle charging stations

  Inserts “the installation of public electric vehicle charging stations”.

• 45.2-1736

  located

  Inserts “located”.

• 45.2-1736

  (i) in a

  Inserts “(i) in a”.

• 45.2-1736

  rural and underserved

  Inserts “rural and underserved”.

• 45.2-1736

  locality,

  Inserts “locality,”.

• 45.2-1736

  (ii) on eligible public land,

  Inserts “(ii) on eligible public land,”.

Action History

1. July 21, 2026

   Continued from last session

2. February 06, 2026

   Continued to next session in Appropriations (Voice Vote)

3. February 05, 2026

   Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB324)

4. February 04, 2026

   Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

5. January 30, 2026

   Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB324)

6. January 23, 2026

   Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

7. January 22, 2026

   Reported from Labor and Commerce and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 5-N)

8. January 20, 2026

   Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (6-Y 3-N)

9. January 19, 2026

   Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

10. January 11, 2026

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

11. January 11, 2026

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102346D

Sponsors

• Nadarius E. Clark · Cosponsor
• Jr. Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan · Primary

Subjects