An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 17 of Title 45.2 an article numbered 10, consisting of a section numbered 45.2-1735, relating to appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning facilities and home appliances; Department of Energy.
HB672 creates a new article in Title 45.2 of the Code of Virginia establishing minimum energy and water conservation standards for certain appliances and HVAC-related products if federal standards are rolled back or removed. Specifically, if the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government removes a product or product category from the applicable federal appliance efficiency rules, the Virginia Department of Energy must adopt standards equivalent to the last applicable federal standards in effect on or before December 31, 2025.
The bill also requires manufacturers of affected products to test their products under the federal test procedures in effect as of December 31, 2025, and to certify compliance through approved third-party databases or other databases authorized by the Department. The Department may update test methods when newer versions become available or when another state or the federal government adopts an alternative method. The bill excludes products where federal law preempts state action and excludes standards already set aside by a court.
HB672 gives Virginia a backstop authority to preserve appliance energy and water efficiency requirements if federal standards are weakened or eliminated, affecting manufacturers, distributors, sellers, lessors, and renters of covered products in the Commonwealth. It adds a new state regulatory framework under the Department of Energy for appliance standards, testing, and certification, and it may limit the sale or rental of noncompliant products in Virginia. The act also requires the Department of Energy to report by December 1, 2026, on implementation costs and funding needs, including testing-related expenses.
The available record shows no recorded committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge partisan or stakeholder sentiment. Based on the bill’s enactment, the measure ultimately advanced successfully and became Chapter 928, suggesting it had sufficient support to pass. The bill’s structure indicates a policy preference for maintaining efficiency standards even if federal rules are rolled back.
The main potential point of contention is the bill’s creation of a state-level regulatory backstop that could impose compliance obligations on manufacturers and sellers if federal appliance standards are removed. Supporters would likely view this as protecting energy and water savings and preserving consumer efficiency protections, while opponents may argue it increases regulatory burden, compliance costs, and market uncertainty. Another possible issue is federal preemption: the bill expressly limits its reach where federal law already controls, but the boundary between state authority and federal appliance regulation could still be a subject of concern.