DeSantis signs law targeting impacts of large-scale data centers

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 into law this week in Lakeland, enacting legislation designed to regulate hyperscale data centers across the state. The new law is intended to protect Florida residents, local governments, and natural resources from the potential impacts of these large facilities. Key provisions of the legislation prohibit utility companies from shifting data center-related costs, including electricity expenses, to residential and small business customers. Instead, large-scale data center users will be required to cover the full cost of service for their operations. Furthermore, the bill explicitly preserves and enhances local government authority over zoning, permitting, and land use decisions for data centers, allowing municipalities to set stricter standards or deny projects entirely. Additional measures include increased transparency by mandating public disclosure of development agreements after exemption periods and establishing clear legal definitions to prevent loopholes. The law also prohibits utilities from serving data centers owned or controlled by foreign countries deemed a concern by the state. Environmental protections are addressed through a dedicated permitting process for large-scale data centers, encouraging the use of reclaimed water, and treating major facility modifications as new permit applications. Governor DeSantis stated that the legislation aims to protect consumers while ensuring communities maintain control over development decisions that affect local resources and infrastructure.