Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 651: Underground electric distribution & transmission improvement; levy on utility customers by ordinance.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 651 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Underground electric distribution & transmission improvement; levy on utility customers by ordinance. Primary sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (March 14, 2026): Failed to Pass from conference.
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.
Qualifying localities; underground electric distribution and transmission improvements; levy on utility customers by ordinance. Authorizes a qualifying locality, defined in the bill, to enter into an agreement with an electric utility to place new or proposed underground electric distribution or transmission lines and facilities or to relocate or convert existing overhead electric distribution or transmission lines and facilities underground. The bill requires any such agreement to provide that the locality pay to the utility its full additional costs of placing new or proposed electric distribution or transmission lines in the qualifying locality or relocating and converting that portion of a line located in the county underground rather than overhead, minus the net of relocation credits.The bill also provides that the qualifying locality may impose an additional levy on electric utility customers, which (i) shall not exceed $1 per month on residential customers; (ii) shall not exceed $10 per month on nonresidential customers; (iii) may be fixed at any amount on nonresidential customers that are major commercial energy consumers, defined in the bill; and (iv) shall be collected by the utility on behalf of the locality.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russet Perry | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 31 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Failed to Pass from conference
- Failed to Pass from conference
- No further action taken
- Senate acceded to request
- House Conferees: Singh, Sullivan, O'Quinn
- Conferees appointed by House
- Senate Conferees: Perry, Marsden, McDougle
- Conferees appointed by Senate
- Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- House requested conference committee
- House insisted on substitute
- House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
Showing 12 most recent of 39 actions. Full history