All Roll Calls
Yes: 8 • No: 0
VirginiaHB20262025 Regular SessionHouse
Data centers; industrial zoning.
Sponsored By: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
Failed
Summary
Data centers; industrial zoning. Requires a locality to review and amend its zoning ordinance to (i) designate data centers as industrial uses for zoning purposes; (ii) review the locations of zones allowing data centers by right, and adjust the zoning map, if needed, considering proximity to residential areas; (iii) review the minimum requirements in the zoning ordinance, such as setbacks and building heights, for the purpose of mitigating negative impacts on residential or other sensitive areas and consider adding requirements specific to data centers as needed; (iv) identify optimal areas for data center development in the locality, including locations that are suitable from the locality's perspective as well as the industry's perspective; (v) consider zoning ordinance changes to reduce the likelihood of noisy data centers, including through limiting allowable locations and requiring sound modeling, and prohibit the constant low-frequency noise of data centers from reaching residential areas; and (vi) require commitments from data centers making zoning requests to sufficiently mitigate negative impacts on any nearby residential areas. The provisions of the bill shall only apply to localities where data centers are already addressed in the locality's zoning ordinance and where a locality is revising its zoning ordinance to include data centers.
Counties, Cities and Towns
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Joshua E. Thomas
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 1/23/2025
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
Yes: 8 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Left in Counties, Cities and Towns
2/4/2025HouseSubcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
1/23/2025HouseImpact statement from CLG (HB2026)
1/22/2025HouseAssigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2
1/15/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
1/7/2025HousePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104301D
1/7/2025House
Bill Text
Introduced
1/7/2025
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