Ohio House passes bill to create data center study commission

The Ohio House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 646, a proposal to establish a statewide data center study commission. The bill, which passed with a 93-0 vote, now advances to the Ohio Senate for consideration. If enacted, the commission would be tasked with conducting at least four public meetings, compiling a report of best practices for data centers, and offering legislative recommendations to the Ohio General Assembly. The commission's mandate includes investigating data centers' effects on the environment, the electrical grid, consumer utility rates, farmland, the local economy, and noise and light pollution. It would also examine data centers' value to national security and artificial intelligence development, along with reports of foreign propaganda aimed at generating opposition to these facilities. Massive data center developments are currently proposed across southwest Ohio, highlighting the urgency of understanding their cost and consequences, particularly their demand for power and water. During House deliberations, Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Ismail Mohamed of Columbus, sought to amend the bill to ensure representation from labor unions and construction trades on the commission. However, this amendment was rejected by the Republican supermajority in a 53-41 vote. Joint-sponsor Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery) emphasized that the appointed experts would bring a broad range of knowledge, while Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) suggested the Senate would be a more appropriate venue for such changes. Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) expressed strong support, stating the commission is crucial for proactively understanding data centers' total economic and environmental impact. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) highlighted the commission as a platform to discuss potentially eliminating a state sales tax exemption on data center building materials, arguing that current conditions no longer warrant such