VirginiaData centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.
What it does
Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. Provides that, 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, a locality shall require that an 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 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.
More detail
The provisions of the bill shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking 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 HB 511 and is identical to SB 94.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0567)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 567 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB153ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 2-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Mar 12Senate insisted on substituteMajor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Insist & Request R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 12House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 12House acceded to request
- Mar 12Senate requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 12Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 12Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A)
- Mar 11Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 11Local Government Substitute agreed to
- Mar 11Read third timeMinor
- Mar 10Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 10Rules suspended
- Mar 9Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Committee substitute printed 26108996D-S1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N)Minor
- Jan 30Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Jan 30Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Jan 29Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Jan 28committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Jan 28Read second timeMinor
- Jan 27Read first timeMinor
- Jan 23Incorporates HB511 (McAuliff)
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 23Committee substitute printed 26105995D-H1Major
- Jan 23Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 2-N)Minor
- Jan 22Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)Major
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22House subcommittee offered
- Jan 20Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2Minor
- Jan 14Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/14/2026 12:13 pm)
- Jan 6Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Jan 6Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101337DIntroduced