Legislature Approves Bill Placing Regulations on Data Centers, Sends Bill to Gov. DeSantis
News ClipThe Capitolist·FL·3/13/2026
The Florida legislature has passed a bill that establishes a regulatory framework for large data centers in the state, including new rules for local governments, public utilities, and water regulators. The bill now goes to Governor DeSantis for signature. The legislation sets requirements for large-load customers (over 50MW), specifies that their costs cannot be shifted to other ratepayers, and creates a permitting process for large data centers' water use. The bill also directs a state government agency to commission an independent study on the impacts of large-scale data centers in Florida.
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Gov: Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
The Florida legislature has passed a bill that establishes a regulatory framework for large data centers in the state. The bill grants local governments authority over comprehensive planning and land-development regulation for these facilities, while requiring public utility tariffs to ensure large-load customers bear their own costs. It also bars utilities from serving large-load customers that qualify as foreign entities and creates a permitting process for data centers' water usage. The bill mandates an independent study on the impacts of large-scale data centers and was sent to Gov. DeSantis for approval.