HB 672 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.

Summary

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 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.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

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 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Subcommittee #3 Subcommittee Substitute → Senator McPike Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House substitute to a Senate substitute, changing the sponsor to Senator McPike and updating the bill number. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a delay mechanism, ensuring the law does not take effect until 12 months after federal standards are removed. Additionally, the list of approved third-party testing databases was expanded to include the AHAM Verifide Certification and Verification Program.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on appliance energy and water conservation standards, but the applicability is now delayed pending federal action.

TIMELINE

Added a new provision stating that the bill's provisions only become effective 12 months after federal standards are removed, preventing immediate implementation.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of Energy to submit a funding and cost report to the Governor and legislative committee chairs by December 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Expanded the list of acceptable third-party testing databases to include the AHAM Verifide Certification and Verification Program Directories.

SCOPE

Changed the document type from a House Substitute to a Senate Substitute and updated the bill number from 26107320D to 26109585D.

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

How they voted

39–0

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

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 928 (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 (HB672ER)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Amended

Finance and Appropriations Amendment rejected

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 amendment (10-Y 4-N)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Commerce and Labor and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 2-N)

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (18-Y 4-N)

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Labor and Commerce (Voice Vote)

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends referring to Labor and Commerce(Voice Vote)

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors