Virginia HB 1601 (2025): Data Center Siting Impact Assessments — VETOED
Virginia · Va. HB 1601 (2025) (vetoed May 2, 2025)
A bipartisan 2025 bill that would have required data center developers to perform site assessments covering water, noise, and historic resources before local land-use approval, including noise studies for homes and schools within 500 feet. Governor Youngkin vetoed it on May 2, 2025.
Technical detail
HB 1601 would have conditioned local approval of high-energy-use facility applications on site assessments examining substation noise and effects on water, agricultural resources, parks, and historic sites; vetoed May 2, 2025 along with companion SB 1449.
Who is protected: Residents near proposed Virginia data centers (would have been)
Who must comply: Would have applied to data center developers and localities
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | Vetoed |
| Protection strength | Proposed or pending |
| Citation | Va. HB 1601 (2025) (vetoed May 2, 2025) |
| Enforced by | Would have been implemented through local land-use review |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-06-10 |
| Official source | HB1601 — 2025 Regular Session — Virginia Legislative Information System ↗ |
More AI rules in Virginia
- Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennial Budget: Data Center Electricit · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Virginia § 15.2-1723.2 (facial recognition by local law enforcement, eff. July 1, 2026) · In effect
- Virginia IVO AI Safety Study (SB 384/HB 797, 2026) · In effect
- VA Data Center Tax Exemption · In effect
- VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law · In effect
- VA warrantless drone ban · In effect
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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