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119-hr-8488119th CongressWALLET

AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

Introduced

Summary

Requires public disclosure and community visibility before building AI-focused data centers.

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The bill would require developers to notify local elected officials and the public 180 days before a definitive step to establish an AI-focused data center and to disclose estimated resources and environmental impacts.

  • Families and local communities would get earlier notice and multilingual outreach such as press releases, social media, direct mail, and on-site signage. 180 days gives residents time to review plans and raise local concerns.
  • Developers, operators, and owners would need to disclose planned location and resource estimates, limit nondisclosure agreements during the establishment process, coordinate joint disclosures when multiple parties are involved, and fund independent environmental impact analyses.
  • Regulators and enforcers would gain a new enforcement path. The Federal Trade Commission would treat disclosure failures as unfair or deceptive acts and could pursue penalties and remedies under the FTC Act.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Who Counts as an AI Data Center

If enacted, the bill would define key terms that decide who must follow the rules. "AI-focused data center" would cover facilities built, expanded, or modified to support AI workloads, including high-density GPU/TPU/ASIC clusters or sites with much higher power, cooling, or water needs. It would list "definitive steps" that trigger pre-disclosure, like binding property purchases or leases, binding utility agreements, major on-site work, final site plan submissions or critical permits, and non-cancelable equipment orders.

180-Day Start Delay for Rules

If enacted, the Act would start 180 days after it is signed. All requirements, definitions, and duties would become operative on that date. Covered developers and enforcement agencies would have that 180-day window before disclosure duties apply. Local communities would wait up to 180 days for the new disclosure protections to take effect.

Early Public Notice for AI Centers

If enacted, the bill would require covered developers to disclose proposed AI data center locations and estimated resource needs at least 180 days before taking a definitive step. Developers would fund an independent environmental impact analysis and share it publicly. If several entities are involved, they would issue one joint public disclosure and be jointly responsible. The bill would limit nondisclosure agreements during establishment and bar NDAs that hide information from government or public resources. Outreach must include local media, social posts, direct mail, on-site signs, and materials in English, Spanish, and other common local languages.

FTC Can Enforce Disclosure Rules

If enacted, the bill would treat violations of the disclosure rules as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce those rules with its usual powers, penalties, and procedures against covered entities that fail to comply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/21/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/4/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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