VA Data Center Siting Bill (Vetoed)
Virginia HB 1601 (2025): Data Center Siting Impact Assessments — VETOED
Virginia · Va. HB 1601 (2025) (vetoed May 2, 2025)
- Status
- Vetoed
- Applies to
- Would have applied to data center developers and localities
- Enforced by
- Would have been implemented through local land-use review
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.
Who is protected: Residents near proposed Virginia data centers (would have been)
Legal 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.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Citation | Va. HB 1601 (2025) (vetoed May 2, 2025) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Bill text | HB1601 — 2025 Regular Session — Virginia Legislative Information System |
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- Virginia VITA EA400 AI Utilization Policy (Executive Branch AI deployment standard, 2026) · In effect
- Virginia SCC data center transmission cost order (2026) · In effect
- Virginia § 15.2-2209.5 data center siting disclosure law (2026) · 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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