Government Watch: April 24, 2026

Two significant bills, AB 2619 and AB 2469, authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) in California, have successfully passed through the Assembly Committee on Local Government. These bills aim to enhance the oversight and regulation of water usage by data centers across the state. AB 2619 focuses on increasing transparency for data center operators, mandating them to disclose projected peak daily and monthly water demands during initial business license applications. Furthermore, operators would be required to report their actual annual water consumption, encompassing both on-site use and the water needed for electricity generation, when renewing their licenses. AB 2469 seeks to bolster local decision-making authority by requiring cities and counties to conduct comprehensive evaluations of the water impacts of proposed data centers and their expansions before granting approval. Under this bill, project applicants would need to provide detailed water supply assessments, water use analyses, and water scarcity plans as part of the permitting process. Both bills are now scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.