HB 1439 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Contractors; regulation, solar installation companies, sale, lease, etc., of solar energy systems.

Summary
Regulation of contractors; solar installation companies; sale, lease, or power purchase of solar energy systems; civil penalty. Authorizes the Board for Contractors (the Board) to require specific contract provisions and disclosures relating to the sale, lease, or power purchase agreement for a residential solar energy system, as defined in the bill. The bill requires a sale, lease, or power purchase agreement for a residential solar energy system to have a written contract that includes specific provisions related to the solar installation company, system design and performance or production guarantees, and information related to invoices and payments. The bill includes several mandatory disclosures to be included with a sale, lease, or power purchase agreement for a residential solar energy system. Under the bill, a willful violation of such requirements shall be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $2,500 per violation. The bill also directs the Board to adopt regulations and update existing regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by January 1, 2027. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 823.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Subcommittee #2 Subcommittee Substitute Commerce and Labor Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was transferred from the House to the Senate committee, and the text was updated to require more detailed cost breakdowns in sales contracts, including labor and installation fees. It also clarifies that customers owe no money until the solar system is fully installed and operational. Additionally, the required financial disclosure for loans was changed from a 'fixture filing' to a 'financing statement,' and a new warning was added to inform buyers that solar loans can complicate home sales.
REQUIREMENT

Sales contracts must now list total costs including labor and installation, and any price changes after signing require a signed change order.

Customers cannot be billed until the solar system is installed, approved, and functioning.

The required financial disclosure for loans was changed from a 'fixture filing' to a 'financing statement'.

A new mandatory statement warns buyers that solar loans may affect their ability to sell their home.

The required disclosure about savings estimates now explicitly requires providing a copy of those estimates to the customer.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 9, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
51
Key actions
15
Committee
12
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 851 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1439ER)
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 4-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Conference Report released
legislature
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
Senate requested conference committee
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N 1-A)
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (20-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #2
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 26104996D
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Irene Shin
Irene Shin
DDemocratic
VA
8