# Virginia HB2026: Data centers; industrial zoning.

Virginia HB2026, Data centers; industrial zoning., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Counties, Cities and Towns) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2026-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2026
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Data centers; industrial zoning.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Counties, Cities and Towns
- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Counties, Cities and Towns
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (8 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 |

## Actions (6)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-01-23: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Impact statement from CLG (HB2026) (House)
- 2025-01-15: Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104301D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014467.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014466.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014467.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014466.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2026-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).