# Virginia HB153: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.

Virginia HB153, Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0567)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB153-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB153
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0567)
- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 13 (363 yes, 139 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. Provides that, prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), as defined in the bill, a locality shall require that an applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the HEUF on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. The bill also allows a locality to require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed facility on (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, and (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land. The provisions of the bill shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power. Finally, the bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. This bill incorporates HB 511 and is identical to SB 94.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Small data center expansions are exempt: benefit, low. The law does not apply to sites that already have an approval if the expansion adds 100 megawatts or less. For these smaller add‑ons, the new site assessment and utility notice are not required.
- Local checks on large data center impacts: benefit, low. The law defines a high energy use facility as one expected to need 100 megawatts or more when applying. Before approval for a new site, the applicant must submit a noise study on homes and schools within 500 feet. A locality can also require review of effects on water, farms, parks, historic sites,…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 93 | 2 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 29 | 10 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 98 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 26 | 14 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Local Government Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 10 | 4 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 90 | 7 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 17 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 0 |   |

## Actions (46)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0567) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 567 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB153ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 2-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate insisted on substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Committee substitute printed 26108996D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-28: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-01-28: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-28: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-23: Committee substitute printed 26105995D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-23: Incorporates HB511 (McAuliff) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-22: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2026-01-14: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/14/2026 12:13 pm) (House)
- 2026-01-06: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101337D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218749.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218748.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214242.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214241.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211089.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189701.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189700.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095371.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095367.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095370.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095366.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093646.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093645.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082638.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082637.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218749.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218748.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214242.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214241.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211089.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189701.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189700.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095371.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095367.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095370.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095366.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093646.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093645.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082638.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082637.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB153-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).