Virginia HB 496 data center water-use reporting (2026)
Virginia — HB 496 (2026): Water Utilities Must Report Potable and Reclaimed Water Supplied to Data Centers (Chapter 623, Effective July 2026)
Virginia · Va. HB 496 (2026), Acts of Assembly Chapter 623, amending Va. Code §62.1-44.38
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2026
- Applies to
- Water suppliers reporting to the State Water Control Board
- Enforced by
- State Water Control Board / Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Virginia HB 496, approved by the Governor on April 13, 2026 (Chapter 623), requires water suppliers that report to the State Water Control Board and provide water to others to report, each month, the potable water and, separately, the reclaimed water they supply to data centers that hold a DEQ air permit. Where their billing systems allow it without changes, they must also break out water supplied for domestic, commercial/industrial and other purposes. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
Who is protected: Virginia residents and water-resource planners, through disclosure of data center water use
Legal detail
HB 496 (2026 Regular Session), patron Del. Elizabeth Guzman (D) with 9 co-patrons (Simonds, Anderson, Clark, J. Cole, N. Cole, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Rasoul, Schmidt). Amends Va. Code § 62.1-44.38 (official code history: '2026, cc. 623, 896'). Text now in force: any water user required to register withdrawal and use data that provides water to another person offsite must include in its report, on its regular reporting schedule, the total volume of potable water and, separately, the total volume of reclaimed water provided during each month to (i) a data center (as defined in § 58.1-3506(A)(43)) with an air permit issued by DEQ and (ii) to the extent available without utility billing system modifications, (a) domestic, (b) commercial and industrial (separately or combined) and (c) all other non-categorized purposes. History (tracker): enrolled Mar. 30, 2026; communicated to Governor Mar. 31; approved Apr. 13, 2026, Chapter 623, effective July 1, 2026. NOT ESTABLISHED: penalty provisions; what Chapter 896 (also amending the section) changed.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | April 13, 2026 |
| Citation | Va. HB 496 (2026), Acts of Assembly Chapter 623, amending Va. Code §62.1-44.38 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Bill text | Va. Code § 62.1-44.38 — Code of Virginia (Virginia Legislative Information System) |
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Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
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- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
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