# Virginia HB496: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.

Virginia HB496, Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Elizabeth R. Guzman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0623)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB496-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB496
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0623)
- Sponsor: Elizabeth R. Guzman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 13 (320 yes, 173 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes and from data centers. Requires any water user required to register water withdrawal and use data to the State Water Control Board that provides water to another person offsite to include in its report, submitted on its regular reporting schedule, the total volume of potable water and, reported separately, the total volume of reclaimed water, as defined in the bill, provided during each month for each of the following categories: (i) a data center with an air permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality and (ii) to the extent available without utility billing system modifications, (a) domestic purposes, (b) commercial and industrial purposes, separately or combined as available, and (c) all other non-categorized purposes. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 553.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Regional planning help for localities: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the Department of Environmental Quality coordinates regional water plans and ensures local partners work together. DEQ provides planning, policy, and technical help tailored to each region’s needs. When a local government asks in writing, the Board provides hands‑on help…
- Special Potomac drought rules and plan: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, any area served by a utility that uses the Potomac River is a distinct drought region. Plans for that region follow the Metropolitan Washington Potomac drought plan, including its triggers, actions, and messages. The Governor’s emergency powers during a drought remain unc…
- Water plans for every river basin: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the State Water Control Board prepares water plans for each major river basin and some areas outside those basins. The Board publishes reports that estimate current and future water use, set drought flow needs, and assess risks to local and regional supplies. Reports also…
- New water use registration and reporting: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the Board can require water users to register if they take more than 1,000,000 gallons in any month for crop irrigation, or average over 10,000 gallons per day in any month for other uses. Registrants must report average and maximum daily withdrawals, sources, wastewater…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elizabeth R. Guzman (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 13 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 78 | 19 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 97 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 25 | 15 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Local Government Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 11 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 74 | 23 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-23 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 1 |   |

## Actions (44)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0623) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor - Chapter 623 (effective - 1/1/2027) (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 (HB496ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (78-Y 19-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-14: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Guzman, Lopez, Morefield (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Srinivasan, Marsden, Stuart (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-03-10: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 97-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-04: Passed Senate with substitute (25-Y 15-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Committee substitute printed 26109002D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Local Government with substitute (11-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (74-Y 23-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-15: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107395D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-13: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-13: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-13: Reconsidered by Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Continued to 2027 in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3 (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102411D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221622.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221621.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214438.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214437.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211514.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211511.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211510.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189588.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189587.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146750.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143541.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146749.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143540.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084672.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084670.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/1221622.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221621.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214438.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214437.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211514.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211511.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211510.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189588.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189587.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146750.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143541.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1146749.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1143540.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084672.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084670.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-HB496-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).