Public utilities; acquisition of rights-of-way for economic development sites. (SB1695)

Introduced By

Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) with support from co-patron Sen. Ben Chafin (R-Lebanon)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Public utilities; acquisition of rights-of-way for economic development sites. Authorizes a public utility providing water, sewer, electric, or natural gas service to propose an Economic Development Program (Program) under which it may acquire utility right-of-way for one or more qualified economic development sites. A proposal for a Program is required to include an analysis of how acquiring the rights-of-way will enhance the Commonwealth's infrastructure and promote the Commonwealth's competitive business environment by improving the readiness of a qualified economic development site. The measure establishes criteria for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to certify that an industrial site is a qualified economic development site. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is authorized to approve a proposal for a Program that satisfies certain conditions, including findings that (i) implementation of the Program will provide significant economic development benefits that might not otherwise be attained absent its approval and (ii) the Program is designed only to acquire utility rights-of-way to a qualified economic development site and not to provide service to other customers or potential customers. A utility's capital investment is capped at one percent of gross plant investment in the aggregate of all of the utility's Programs and at $5 million for any specific qualified economic development site. This bill is identical to HB 2738. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/14/2019Presented and ordered printed 19104356D
01/14/2019Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/21/2019Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
01/21/2019Committee substitute printed 19105203D-S1
01/23/2019Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/24/2019Read second time
01/24/2019Reading of substitute waived
01/24/2019Committee substitute agreed to 19105203D-S1
01/24/2019Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB1695S1
01/25/2019Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
01/29/2019Placed on Calendar
01/29/2019Read first time
01/29/2019Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/12/2019Reported from Commerce and Labor (21-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/12/2019Read second time
02/13/2019Read third time
02/13/2019Passed House (84-Y 13-N)
02/13/2019VOTE: PASSAGE (84-Y 13-N) (see vote tally)
02/14/2019Impact statement from DPB (SB1695S1)
02/18/2019Enrolled
02/18/2019Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1695ER)
02/18/2019Impact statement from DPB (SB1695ER)
02/18/2019Signed by Speaker
02/19/2019Signed by President
02/20/2019G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 25, 2019
02/20/2019Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 20, 2019
02/20/2019G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 26, 2019
03/18/2019G Approved by Governor-Chapter 495 (effective 7/1/19)
03/18/2019G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0495)