Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

SB 697: Solar and energy facilities; local regulation.

Passed one chamber Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 697 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 19, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Solar and energy facilities; local regulation. Primary sponsor: Schuyler VanValkenburg (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (November 18, 2024): Left in Counties, Cities and Towns.

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.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Schuyler VanValkenburgPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate16

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Left in Counties, Cities and Towns
  2. Continued to 2025 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
  3. Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 (Voice Vote)
  4. Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3
  5. Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
  6. Read first time
  7. Placed on Calendar
  8. Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
  9. Printed as engrossed 24107025D-ES1
  10. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendments SB697ES1
  11. Amendments by Senator VanValkenburg agreed to
  12. Reading of amendments waived

Showing 12 most recent of 22 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source