# Virginia HB338: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.

Virginia HB338, Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in General Laws and Technology) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB338-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB338
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-01-05
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in General Laws and Technology
- Sponsor: Joshua E. Thomas (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (83 yes, 54 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Siting of data centers; site assessment. Allows a locality, prior to any approval for the siting of a data center, to perform a site assessment to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions within the locality.

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-28 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology | pass | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 2024-02-13 | House | VOTE: Passage | pass | 55 | 42 | 1 |
| 2024-02-09 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) | pass | 13 | 8 |   |
| 2024-02-08 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments | pass | 6 | 1 | 1 |

## Actions (16)

- 2024-11-19: Left in General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2024-02-28: Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (9-Y 3-N 3-A) (Senate)
- 2024-02-14: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2024-02-14: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2024-02-13: VOTE: Passage (55-Y 42-N 1-A) (House)
- 2024-02-13: Read third time and passed House (55-Y 42-N 1-A) (House)
- 2024-02-12: Printed as engrossed 24101112D-E (House)
- 2024-02-12: Engrossed by House as amended HB338E (House)
- 2024-02-12: Committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2024-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2024-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2024-02-09: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 8-N) (House)
- 2024-02-08: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (6-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2024-01-24: Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2024-01-05: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2024-01-05: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101112D (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed, 2024-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB338)
- Introduced, 2024-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB338)
- Amendment: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB338)

## 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
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB338)

## 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-HB338-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).