Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 588: Solar facilities; Department of Energy to develop criteria to determine appropriateness of sites.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 588 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Solar facilities; Department of Energy to develop criteria to determine appropriateness of sites. Primary sponsor: Dave Marsden (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 17, 2026): Left in Finance and Appropriations.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Department of Energy; developing criteria to determine the appropriateness of sites for solar facilities. Requires the Department of Energy (the Department) to develop a set of criteria to be used by reviewers to (i) assess the appropriateness of potential siting areas and (ii) assign a siting appropriateness score from one to 100 for each area and to establish a scoring committee to review applications for proposed solar facilities. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill requires every completed land use application for a proposed solar facility to be forwarded by the host locality to the Department for evaluation and scoring. The bill provides that the locality shall continue to have final authority for approval or disapproval of a proposed solar facility.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Marsden | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 35 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Finance and Appropriations
- Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N 1-A)
- Senate committee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB588)
- Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105042D