Virginia · Senate Bill 697 · 2025 Regular Session

Solar and energy facilities; local regulation.

SB 697 Sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Passed one chamber, then died

  1. Introduced Jan 19, 2024
  2. In committee Jan 19, 2024
  3. Passed the Senate Feb 12, 2024
  4. Died  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Solar and energy facilities; local regulation. Prohibits a locality from including in an ordinance (i) limits on the total amount, density, or size of any ground-mounted solar facility or energy storage facility until such time that the total area under panels within the locality exceeds four percent of the total area within the locality or (ii) any prohibitions on the use of solar panels that comply with generally…

Read the full title (97 words)

Solar and energy facilities; local regulation. Prohibits a locality from including in an ordinance (i) limits on the total amount, density, or size of any ground-mounted solar facility or energy storage facility until such time that the total area under panels within the locality exceeds four percent of the total area within the locality or (ii) any prohibitions on the use of solar panels that comply with generally accepted national environmental protection and product safety standards, provided that such installation is in compliance with any provisions of a local ordinance that establishes criteria and requirements for siting.

Every action

21 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 13 earlier steps
  1. SenatePresented and ordered printed 24104547D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Local Government · Senate Local Government
  3. SenateImpact statement from DHCD/CLG (SB697)
  4. SenateSenate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
  5. CommitteeReported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N) · Senate Local Government
  6. SenateCommittee substitute printed 24107025D-S1
  7. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
  8. SenateRead second time
  9. SenateReading of substitute waived
  10. SenateCommittee substitute agreed to 24107025D-S1
  11. SenateReading of amendments waived
  12. SenateAmendments by Senator VanValkenburg agreed to
  13. SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendments SB697ES1
  1. SenateRead third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
  2. House of DelegatesPlaced on Calendar
  3. House of DelegatesRead first time
  4. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns · House of Delegates Counties, Cities and Towns
  5. CommitteeAssigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3 · House of Delegates Counties, Cities and Towns: Subcommittee 3
  6. CommitteeSubcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote) · House of Delegates Counties, Cities and Towns: Subcommittee 3
  7. CommitteeContinued to 2025 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) · House of Delegates Counties, Cities and Towns
  8. CommitteeLeft in Counties, Cities and Towns · House of Delegates Counties, Cities and Towns

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.