A measure from state Sen. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy would give Virginia’s local governments the authority to mandate the installation of solar canopies in sizable nonresidential parking lots during development approvals, as detailed by the Virginia State Senate.
The proposal, introduced as SB26 on Jan. 14, 2026, for the 2026 regular session, is titled: “Land development; definitions, solar canopies in surface parking areas, delayed effective date.”
Below is an analysis of key provisions based on the published bill text, occasionally clarified for readability.
The bill would enable Virginia jurisdictions to enact land development ordinances requiring solar canopies over portions of nonresidential parking areas as a prerequisite for development. This obligation could apply to parking facilities with at least 100 spaces, covering up to 50% of the surface parking area. Ordinances would need to provide waivers if their requirements would preclude other permitted uses or allowable density. Definitions for “solar canopy” are stated in the bill, and it would allow developers to use generated power on-site or interface with the grid under established state rules. The measure is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027.
Sen. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Democrat-33rd District) is the sole sponsor of this legislation.
Carroll Foy has put forward 11 additional bills since the legislative session began.
She holds a BA from Virginia Military Institute (class of 2003) and a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law (awarded in 2010).
Representing the 33rd Senate District, Carroll Foy entered the Virginia State Senate as a Democrat following her 2024 election, succeeding Jennifer Boysko.
The Virginia legislative procedure requires an introduced bill to undergo committee review for consideration and amendment before floor debates and voting in both chambers. Bills that clear both chambers await the governor’s approval, veto, or inaction; in the latter instance, legislation may become law without a signature. The General Assembly meets once per year in regular session from the second Monday of January, and only some of the hundreds of introduced bills pass into law.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB26 | 01/14/2026 | Land development; definitions, solar canopies in surface parking areas, delayed effective date. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB24 | 01/14/2026 | Discovery; methods of delivery, accused may request of any materials or evidence, etc., report. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy and Jessica L. Anderson | SB25 | 01/14/2026 | Offshore wind industry; workforce development. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Russet Perry, Kannan Srinivasan, Saddam Azlan Salim, and Scott A. Surovell | SB27 | 01/14/2026 | Firearm industry members; definitions, standards of responsible conduct, civil liability. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB28 | 01/14/2026 | Overtime for certain employees; pay for domestic workers, delayed effective date. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB121 | 01/14/2026 | Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jeremy S. McPike, and Scott A. Surovell | SB361 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs & devices, including over-the-counter. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB364 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center; work group to develop policy, etc., to establish. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB369 | 01/14/2026 | Civil actions; assignment as business litigation action, requirements, delayed effective date. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Barbara A. Favola, Jeremy S. McPike, and Scott A. Surovell | SB596 | 01/14/2026 | Contraception; definitions, establishes right to obtain, applicability, enforcement. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB630 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; tobacco surcharge. |
| 2026 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB721 | 01/14/2026 | Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program; established, report. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Ghazala F. Hashmi, Angelia Williams Graves, and Kannan Srinivasan | SB780 | 01/08/2025 | Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB781 | 01/08/2025 | Retired or former law-enforcement officers; publication of personal information. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB847 | 01/08/2025 | Reckless driving; improper driving as a lesser included offense. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB897 | 01/08/2025 | Overtime for certain employees; domestic service workers and live-in domestic workers. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB962 | 01/08/2025 | Va. Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Barbara A. Favola, Christie New Craig, and Kannan Srinivasan | SB963 | 01/08/2025 | Discovery materials or evidence; allows accused to request the Commonwealth to copy or photograph. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB965 | 01/08/2025 | District courts; recording of proceedings. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB966 | 01/08/2025 | Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission; increase membership. |
| 2025 | Jennifer D. Carroll Foy | SB968 | 01/08/2025 | School boards; support services personnel, annual collection of certain staffing data required. |
Details in this report are sourced from the Virginia State Senate. Access the original data here.
