---
type: "Bill"
title: "Carbon-free energy or clean energy; definition of fusion energy."
description: "Carbon-free energy or clean energy; fusion energy; definitions. Adds fusion energy, as defined in the bill, to the list of generation sources that qualify as carbon-free energy or clean energy. This bill is identical to SB 1338."
jurisdiction: "us/states/va"
legislature: "Virginia General Assembly"
session: "2025"
identifier: "HB 1779"
citation: "Virginia HB 1779 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Richard C. \"Rip\" Sullivan, Jr."]
version_count: 3
action_count: 25
vote_count: 6
first_action: "2025-01-06"
last_action: "2025-03-19"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/6f7509bf-abba-4c93-bf69-8cae17e57246"
source_url: "https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1779"
source_hash: "cc6abbf847e3b2b203cdda8101951e0b60c419485b7ba5315954cfad58f705f1"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-va"]
---

# Virginia HB 1779 (2025) — Carbon-free energy or clean energy; definition of fusion energy.

Carbon-free energy or clean energy; fusion energy; definitions. Adds fusion energy, as defined in the bill, to the list of generation sources that qualify as carbon-free energy or clean energy. This bill is identical to SB 1338.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012852.PDF)
2. **Chaptered** (committee substitute) — [source](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1071462.PDF)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052436.PDF)

## Votes

- Reported from Labor and Commerce (22-Y 0-N) — **22–0** (pass) · lower
- Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) — **10–0** (pass) · lower
- Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) — **15–0** (pass) · upper
- Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) — **40–0** (pass) · upper
- Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N) — **97–0** (pass) · lower
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N) — **39–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — primary (person)
- Dan I. Helmer — cosponsor (person)
- Delores L. McQuinn — cosponsor (person)
- Jackie H. Glass — cosponsor (person)
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2025-01-06** Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103048D `filing, introduction`
- **2025-01-06** Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce `referral-committee`
- **2025-01-13** Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #3 `referral-committee`
- **2025-01-16** Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
- **2025-01-21** Reported from Labor and Commerce (22-Y 0-N) `committee-passage`
- **2025-01-23** Read first time `reading-1`
- **2025-01-24** Read second time and engrossed `reading-2`
- **2025-01-27** Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N) `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-01-28** Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- **2025-01-28** Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-10** Reported from Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-12** Rules suspended
- **2025-02-12** Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)
- **2025-02-12** Passed by for the day
- **2025-02-13** Read third time `reading-3`
- **2025-02-13** Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) `passage`
- **2025-02-18** Enrolled `enrolled`
- **2025-02-18** Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1779ER) `passage`
- **2025-02-18** Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-02-20** Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-03-03** Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2024 `enrolled, executive-receipt`
- **2025-03-03** Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 `executive-receipt`
- **2025-03-18** Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB1779)
- **2025-03-19** Approved by Governor-Chapter 140 (Effective 07/01/25) `executive-signature`
- **2025-03-19** Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0140)

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/6f7509bf-abba-4c93-bf69-8cae17e57246`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Virginia legislature records).