SB94
Siting of data centers; site assessment, high energy facility.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Danica Roem (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.
Provides that on or after January 1, 2027, a locality that has a zoning ordinance shall require, prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), as defined in the bill, that an ... (More) applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the HEUF on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. The bill also allows a locality to require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed HEUF facility on (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, and (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land. The bill requires the locality to approve such land use applications only if the application is for an HEUF located on a parcel of land zoned for industrial use or used for such purpose, subject to certain exceptions. The bill excludes from the provisions a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant seeks an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power. Finally, the bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. This bill incorporates SB 130 (Less)-
Bill History
- 12/31/2025 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100739D
- 12/31/2025 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Local Government
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Reported from Local Government with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 5-N 1-A)
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 01/27/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Incorporates SB130 (Ebbin)
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26106623D-S1
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Senator Roem Amendment #1 withdrawn
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Reading of amendment #2 waived (Voice Vote)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Senator Roem Amendment #2 agreed to (24-Y 16-N 0-A)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 1-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/17/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/17/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
- 02/18/2026 - House: Placed on Counties, Cities and Towns Agenda
- 02/20/2026 - House: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
- 02/20/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26108333D-H1
- 02/24/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/25/2026 - House: Read third time
- 02/25/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/25/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/25/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (80-Y 14-N 0-A)
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate
- 03/02/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 03/02/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley
- 03/06/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/06/2026 - House: House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt
- 03/13/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 4-N 0-A)
- 03/14/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)
