SB 135 creates new regulations for large data centers (those using 10 megawatts or more of power) to ensure they pay the full costs of electricity and water service they consume, including costs to maintain infrastructure if they shut down or reduce operations. The bill also allows counties and municipalities to adopt their own rules limiting or prohibiting data centers in their areas, and requires data center operators to notify local water providers about their water usage plans before opening. These changes aim to prevent data centers from shifting their infrastructure costs onto other residents or causing utility shortages.
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
The engrossed version restructures the bill's electricity cost protections by replacing a prohibition on surcharges with a requirement that data centers pay "fair, just, and reasonable" costs and that electricity providers establish separate billing terms, while also adding a new section requiring data centers to notify water providers of projected consumption and obtain Board of Water Management approval before operating. This NARROWS the original bill's protections against cost-shifting to residents by making the standard more flexible ("fair and reasonable" rather than an outright prohibition) while BROADENING the bill to address water consumption concerns alongside electricity.
The amendment adds a specific definition that data centers must have a peak demand of ten megawatts or greater to be covered by the bill, and removes language requiring data center operators to pay all electricity costs, instead requiring only that electricity providers establish separate terms ensuring data centers reimburse fairly attributed costs. This NARROWS the bill's scope by excluding smaller data centers and WEAKENS protections for ratepayers by eliminating the blanket requirement that data centers cover all their electricity costs.
This change converts the bill from its engrossed (House-reviewed) version to its enrolled (final passed) version, which is a technical formatting update rather than a substantive change to the bill's provisions. The enrolled version adds standard legislative certification language and signature blocks for the Governor and Secretary of State while removing the markup indicators and section numbering that tracked the original drafting.
Other amendments
Signed by the Governor S.J. 549
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 539
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 560
Signed by the President S.J. 525
Senate Concurred in amendments Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 1. S.J. 511
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 60, NAYS 7. H.J. 523
House of Representatives Remove from Consent Calendar H.J. 509
State Affairs Certified uncontested, placed on consent
State Affairs Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0.
State Affairs Motion to amend
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House State Affairs H.J. 416
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 343
Senate Motion to amend Passed, YEAS 30, NAYS 4. S.J. 343
Senate Deferred to another day S.J. 309
State Affairs Do Pass Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 4. S.J. 25
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 120
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Concurred in amendments
Do Pass Amended
State Affairs — Do Pass Amended
Motion to amend
Do Pass Amended
State Affairs — Do Pass