SB256
Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Jeremy McPike (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Minimum energy and water conservation standards; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning facilities and home appliances; Department of Energy; prohibited practices; penalty.
Provides that if any product or product categories under the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (the EPCA) are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department of Energy shall adopt energy or water conservation standards that shall be equivalent to the last ... (More) applicable federal standards with a product compliance date of on or before December 31, 2025. The bill prohibits any such new products from being sold, offered for sale, leased, or rented in the Commonwealth unless such products meet or exceed such standards. The bill excludes any energy or water conservation standards set aside by a court or any product if federal law preempts the application of the minimum energy and water conservation standards to such a product, including any product or product categories where there is a requirement to develop a standard under the EPCA. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100892D
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107427D-S1
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/17/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/19/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256)
- 02/24/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/24/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/24/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 02/25/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/26/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 6-N)
- 03/02/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/03/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/03/2026 - House: Passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB256ER)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB256)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
