# Virginia SB94: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.

Virginia SB94, Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Danica A. Roem (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0568)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB94-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB94
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Data centers; site assessment, sound profile of the high energy use facility.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-12-31
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0568)
- Sponsor: Danica A. Roem (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 15 (334 yes, 101 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## 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 incorporates SB 130 and is identical to HB 153.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local zoning and state utility powers preserved: benefit, low. Local zoning power remains in place. The site study process does not change or replace the State Corporation Commission’s authority over utilities, and it does not give that authority to localities.
- New reviews for 100-megawatt data centers: benefit, low. The law sets special review rules for large data centers that need 100 megawatts or more of power. Before any rezoning or special permit, the applicant must submit a site study. The study must, as practical and on the state review timeline, analyze noise on homes and schools within 500 feet of the…
- Data center expansions under 100 megawatts exempt: cost, low. At sites with an existing legislative or administrative approval, adding up to an extra 100 megawatts does not trigger the new site-study rules. Expansions above that amount are not exempt.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Danica A. Roem (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 91 | 4 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 29 | 10 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 39 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 80 | 14 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 18 | 1 |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Senator Roem Amendment #2 agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reading of amendment #2 waived (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | Senate | Reported from Local Government with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 5 | 1 |

## Actions (53)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0568) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 568 (effective 7/1/2026) (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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB94ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (91-Y 4-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-06: House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt (House)
- 2026-03-06: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-04: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-02: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-02-27: House substitute rejected by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Passed House with substitute (80-Y 14-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-25: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Committee substitute printed 26108333D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-17: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-17: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2026-02-17: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Floor offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Senator Roem Amendment #2 agreed to (24-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reading of amendment #2 waived (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Committee amendments rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Senator Roem Amendment #1 withdrawn (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106623D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Incorporates SB130 (Ebbin) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Reported from Local Government with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 5-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-12-31: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-12-31: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100739D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218756.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218755.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214262.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214261.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211138.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171402.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171401.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141842.HTML)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141902.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141901.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113429.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113428.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101277.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097555.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-12-31: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082835.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082833.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/1218756.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1218755.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214262.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214261.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211138.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171402.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171401.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141842.HTML)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141902.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141901.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113429.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113428.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101277.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097555.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082835.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082833.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-SB94-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).