SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 1517

Approval of Data Center Facilities
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SPONSOR
Joseph
FILED BY
Dotie Joseph — District 108, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 484 — HB 1517 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under AI & Technology.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Approval of Data Center Facilities; Requires applications for approval of data center facilities to include specified disclosures; requires existing data centers to disclose specified information; requires DEP to make such information publicly available on its website; provides penalty; prohibits certain tax credits, exemptions, protections, & restrictions for such information; requires DEP to adopt rules.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates public disclosure of data center energy, water, and safety plans.

New data centers must submit detailed plans for energy, water, waste, and worker safety before approval. Existing facilities must disclose the same information to the Department of Environmental Protection by August 1, 2026.

The department must post all disclosures on its website for at least 30 days before approving any new facility. Local governments within 100 square miles must also post the information on their websites.

Written notices must be sent to all residential and commercial landowners and renters within a five-mile radius of the proposed data center location. This ensures nearby communities receive direct notification of the facility's resource impacts.

Data centers that fail to comply with these reporting requirements may face fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Owners or operators who fail to submit required disclosure reports may not receive any tax incentives.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Public Disclosure of Data Center Plans majors. 377.714(2)(a)

AIRequires all new and existing data centers to publicly disclose detailed energy, water, waste, and emissions plans on the Department of Environmental Protection website.

“The Department of Environmental Protection must post the information in subsection (1) on its website.” bill text, line 111 →
§ 2 30-Day Public Comment Period Before Approval majors. 377.714(2)(a)

AIProhibits the approval of any new data center facility until its required environmental and resource disclosures have been publicly posted for at least 30 days.

“An application for a new data center facility may not be approved before such information is posted on the department website for no less than 30 calendar days.” bill text, line 112 →
§ 3 Local Government and Resident Notification majors. 377.714(2)(c)

AIRequires local governments within 100 square miles to post disclosures and mandates written notices to all landowners and renters within a 5-mile radius of the proposed site.

“written notices shall be provided to all residential and commercial landowners and renters within a 5-mile radius of the proposed data center location.” bill text, line 121 →
§ 4 Prohibition on Trade Secret Exemptions majors. 377.714(5)

AIPrevents data centers from withholding required environmental and resource information from public view by claiming trade secrets or confidentiality agreements.

“The information in subsection (1) may not be granted an exemption or protection from disclosure based on trade secrets, confidentiality agreements, or any other restriction” bill text, line 159 →
§ 5 Financial Penalties and Tax Incentive Disqualification moderates. 377.714(4)

AIImposes fines of up to $10,000 per violation for non-compliance and bars high resource use facilities from receiving tax incentives if disclosure reports are not properly submitted.

“Data centers that fail to comply with the reporting requirements under this section may be subject to fines of up to $10,000 per violation.” bill text, line 154 →
§ 6 Mandatory Industry Security and Privacy Compliance moderates. 377.714(3)(b)

AIRequires data centers to state adherence to specific security standards, including ISO 27001, GDPR for European users, PCI DSS for payment data, and HIPAA for health information.

“Data centers that deal with personal information of any potential European users shall state whether they comply with privacy standards set forth in the General Data Protection” bill text, line 135 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee; Companion bill(s)...
1/15/2026
Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 377.714
+11 / −0
s. 377.714
+1101 / −0