HB 338 — Siting of data centers; locality may perform site assessment before approval.
Last action — Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (9-Y 3-N 3-A)
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House of Delegates
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Siting of data centers; site assessment. Allows a locality, prior to any approval for the siting of a data center, to perform a site assessment to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions within the locality.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
21 added · 18 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to House Bill 338 change the requirement for localities considering the siting of data centers. Originally, localities were mandated to conduct site assessments that evaluate the impact on water usage, carbon emissions, and agricultural resources. Now, they are given the option to conduct these assessments, which could lead to less scrutiny of potential environmental impacts from new data centers. This change is significant because it may reduce protections for local resources and communities affected by these developments.
SESSION INTRODUCEDENGROSSED 24101112D I HOUSE BILL NO.
338 NHouse OfferedAmendments January 10, 2024 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article[ 1] of- ChapterFebruary 2212, of2024 TitleA 15.2Bnumbered a section numbered 15.2-2209.4, relating to siting of data centers;
site assessmRnt.assessment.
–––––––––– OPatron Patrons––Thomas,Prior Helmer,to Srinivasan,Engrossment––Delegate Lauf––––––––––yThomas Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Webert;Towns –––––––––– E Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Senator:N 1.
RoemThat Referredthe toCode Committeeof onVirginia Counties,is Citiesamended andby Townsadding Din ––––––––––Article U1 Beof itChapter enacted22 byof theTitle General15.2 Assemblya ofG Virginia:sec§ 15.2-2209.4.
C section numbered 15.2-2209.4 as follows:by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a § 15.2-2209.4.
E Prior to any approval for the siting of a data center, a locality [ shall may ] perform a site assessment to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions [ as well as any impacts on agricultural resources ] within the locality.
S S E D H B8 E / / 27
View plain text versions (2)
- Engrossed Printed as engrossed 24101112D-E Current pdf February 12, 2024
- Prefiled Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101112D pdf January 05, 2024
Action History
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Continued to 2025 in General Laws and Technology (9-Y 3-N 3-A)
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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
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Constitutional reading dispensed
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VOTE: Passage (55-Y 42-N 1-A)
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Read third time and passed House (55-Y 42-N 1-A)
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Printed as engrossed 24101112D-E
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Engrossed by House as amended HB338E
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Committee amendments agreed to
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Read second time
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Read first time
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Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 8-N)
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Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (6-Y 1-N)
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Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #3
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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101112D
Sponsors
- Joshua E. Thomas · Primary
- Dan I. Helmer · Cosponsor
- Kannan Srinivasan · Cosponsor
- Amy J. Laufer · Cosponsor
- Michael J. Webert · Cosponsor
- Danica A. Roem · Cosponsor
- Ian T. Lovejoy · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 44 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (6)
Not signed on (141)
141 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 141 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 60% | 20% | 0% | 20% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron R. Rouse | — | Yea |
| Bryce E. Reeves | — | Yea |
| Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. | — | Not Voting |
| Christie New Craig | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Danica A. Roem | — | Nay |
| Ebbin, Adam P. | — | Nay |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Yea |
| Jeremy S. McPike | — | Yea |
| Lashrecse D. Aird | — | Not Voting |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Schuyler T. VanValkenburg | — | Not Voting |
| Subramanyam, Suhas | — | Nay |
| Timmy French | — | Yea |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 54 | 42 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 54 | 42 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 55% | 42% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 13 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 13 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 59% | 36% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Q. Askew | — | Yea |
| Anne Ferrell Tata | — | Nay |
| Atoosa R. Reaser | — | Yea |
| Briana D. Sewell | — | Yea |
| Debra D. Gardner | — | Yea |
| Delores Oates | — | Nay |
| Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker | — | Yea |
| Ellen H. McLaughlin | — | Not Voting |
| Higgins, Geary | — | Nay |
| Irene Shin | — | Yea |
| James W. Morefield | — | Nay |
| Joseph P. McNamara | — | Nay |
| Katrina Callsen | — | Yea |
| Knight, Barry D. | — | Nay |
| Laura Jane Cohen | — | Yea |
| Lovejoy, Ian T. | — | Yea |
| M. Keith Hodges | — | Nay |
| Marty Martinez | — | Yea |
| Michael J. Jones | — | Yea |
| Mundon King, Candi | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Wyatt | — | Nay |
| Shelly A. Simonds | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 67% | 11% | 0% | 22% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Q. Askew | — | Yea |
| Debra D. Gardner | — | Yea |
| Delores Oates | — | Nay |
| Ellen H. McLaughlin | — | Not Voting |
| Higgins, Geary | — | Yea |
| Irene Shin | — | Yea |
| Katrina Callsen | — | Yea |
| Mundon King, Candi | — | Not Voting |
| Shelly A. Simonds | — | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 338 do?
- Siting of data centers; site assessment. Allows a locality, prior to any approval for the siting of a data center, to perform a site assessment to examine the effect of the data center on water usage and carbon emissions within the locality.
- Who sponsors HB 338?
- HB 338 is sponsored by Joshua E. Thomas, Dan I. Helmer, Kannan Srinivasan, Amy J. Laufer, Michael J. Webert, Danica A. Roem, and Lovejoy, Ian T..
- What is the current status of HB 338?
- This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House of Delegates” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HB 338?
- Track HB 338 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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