# Virginia HB1601: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. Virginia HB1601, Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1601-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB1601 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-03 - Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 12 (331 yes, 345 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## 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 is identical to SB 1449. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | House | Motion to pass in enrolled form rejected | pass | 51 | 44 | | | 2025-04-02 | House | House rejected Governor's recommendation | fail | 11 | 85 | | | 2025-02-22 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 55 | 44 | | | 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 22 | 13 | 1 | | 2025-02-18 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-02-14 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House (Y-2 N-94 A-0) | fail | 2 | 94 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 26 | 10 | 1 | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-10 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 11 | 3 | 1 | | 2025-01-23 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 57 | 40 | | | 2025-01-17 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) | pass | 13 | 9 | | | 2025-01-16 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 | ## Actions (48) - 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (House) - 2025-04-02: Motion to pass in enrolled form rejected (51-Y 44-N) (House) - 2025-04-02: House rejected Governor's recommendation (11-Y 85-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1601ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 44-N) (House) - 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 13-N 1-A) (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee - 2025-02-21: Conference substitute printed 25107870D-H1 (House) - 2025-02-20: Senators: Ebbin, McPike, Hackworth (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Delegates: Thomas, Sewell, Morefield (House) - 2025-02-19: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2025-02-19: House acceded to request (House) - 2025-02-18: Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Senate substitute rejected by House (Y-2 N-94 A-0) (House) - 2025-02-12: Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 10-N 1-A) (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Reading of substitute waived (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Committee substitute printed 25107109D-S1 (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Reported from Local Government with substitute (11-Y 3-N 1-A) (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Read third time and passed House (57-Y 40-N) (House) - 2025-01-22: Printed as engrossed 25102219D-E (House) - 2025-01-22: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2025-01-22: Counties, Cities and Towns Amendments agreed to (House) - 2025-01-22: Read second time (House) - 2025-01-21: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-17: Impact statement from CLG (HB1601) (House) - 2025-01-17: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N) (House) - 2025-01-16: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N) (House) - 2025-01-13: Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House) - 2025-01-03: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House) - 2025-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102219D (House) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080070.HTML) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073469.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069080.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069079.PDF) - Conference Report, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066834.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066855.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066854.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-02-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045666.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045665.PDF) - Engrossed, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022672.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022671.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-01-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021335.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-01-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012260.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012259.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080070.HTML) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073469.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069080.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069079.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066834.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066855.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066854.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045666.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1045665.PDF) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022672.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1022671.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1021335.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012260.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1012259.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1601-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).