# Virginia SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.

Virginia SB1449, Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1449
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 11 (303 yes, 166 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 HB 1601.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate rejected Governor's recommendation | fail | 16 | 24 |   |
| 2025-02-22 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 57 | 40 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 26 | 13 | 1 |
| 2025-02-18 | Senate | Senate acceded to request | pass | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-02-14 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 4 | 31 | 1 |
| 2025-02-12 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 58 | 39 |   |
| 2025-02-07 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 14 | 7 |   |
| 2025-02-06 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025-01-30 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025-01-28 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with substitute | pass | 12 | 3 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Senate rejected Governor's recommendation (16-Y 24-N) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2024 (Governor)
- 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1449ER) (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-22: Conference substitute printed 25107860D-S2 (Senate)
- 2025-02-22: Conference report agreed to by House (57-Y 40-N) (House)
- 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 13-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee
- 2025-02-19: Delegates: Thomas, Sewell, Morefield (House)
- 2025-02-19: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2025-02-18: Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Senators: Ebbin, McPike, Hackworth (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2025-02-17: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2025-02-14: House substitute rejected by Senate (4-Y 31-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Passed House with substitute (58-Y 39-N) (House)
- 2025-02-12: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2025-02-12: Counties, Cities and Towns Substitute agreed to (House)
- 2025-02-12: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-11: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-07: Committee substitute printed 25106875D-H1 (House)
- 2025-02-07: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (14-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2025-02-06: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2025-02-04: Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2 (House)
- 2025-02-03: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-03: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-30: Read third time and passed Senate (33-Y 6-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Local Government Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Reading of substitute waived (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Read second time (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Committee substitute printed 25106235D-S1 (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Reported from Local Government with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Presented and ordered printed 25105166D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080096.HTML)
- Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073970.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069320.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069319.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066921.HTML)
- Substitute, 2025-02-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066950.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066949.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043853.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043852.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043046.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043045.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031335.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031334.PDF)
- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029965.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029964.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023104.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023103.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)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)
- HB1721: Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation, Uniform Easement Relocation Act. (failed)

## Sources
- [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080096.HTML)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073970.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069320.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1069319.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066921.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066950.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066949.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043853.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043852.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043046.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1043045.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031335.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1031334.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029965.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1029964.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023104.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1023103.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)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [HB1721: Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation, Uniform Ease…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1721-2025)
- [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-SB1449-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).