Texas County issues one-year ban on new data centers

Name: Texas County issues one-year ban on new data centers
Uploaded: 2026-05-13T23:06:42.000Z
Duration: 44 s
Description: Hill County, Texas, has enacted a one-year ban on new data centers in unincorporated areas after a 3-2 vote by its Commissioners Court. The decision was made due to concerns about the strain on electricity and water resources versus potential economic benefits. Developers can apply for waivers, but the measure is significant as a possible first for Texas.

News Clip0:44WFAA·Hill County, TX·5/13/2026

Hill County, Texas, has enacted a one-year ban on new data centers in unincorporated areas after a 3-2 vote by its Commissioners Court. The decision was made due to concerns about the strain on electricity and water resources versus potential economic benefits. Developers can apply for waivers, but the measure is significant as a possible first for Texas.

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Gov: Hill County Commissioners Court, Hood County Commissioners Court, Texas State Legislature

Hill County, Texas, commissioners voted 3-2 to enact a one-year ban on new data centers in unincorporated areas. The decision, which appears to be a first for Texas, was made after extensive debate on the potential strain data centers place on electricity and water resources versus their economic benefits. Developers in Hill County can still apply for a waiver to the ban.

The vote comes after a similar measure in Hood County was rejected in February. A state lawmaker had previously suggested that counties might not possess the authority to implement such broad construction suspensions, raising questions about the legality and longevity of Hill County's new policy.