HB 2496 — An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, providing for pause on data center proposals.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

3381 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of 2026 No.

3628INTRODUCED THEBY GENERALFRIEL, ASSEMBLYDONAHUE, OFMULLINS, PENNSYLVANIAPIELLI, HOUSESTEELE, BILLHILL- SessionEVANS, VITALI, SAPPEY, HANBIDGE, BOROWSKI, SHUSTERMAN, PASHINSKI, OTTEN AND BOYD, MAY 7, 2026 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 8, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of No.July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled "An act to empower cities of the second class A, and third class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first and second classes including those within a county of the second class and counties of the second through eighth classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land development ordinances, planned residential development and other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition the use of planning practices and to promote the effectiveh utilization of renewable energy sources;

2496 2026 INTEVANS, VITALI, SAPPEY, HANBIDGE, BOROWSKI, SHUSTERMAN,LL- PASHINSKI, OTTEN, BOYD, BRIGGS, T.

JONES, B.

MILLER, WALSH, PUGH, COOPER AND CIRESI, MAY 7, 2026 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 17, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first and second classes including those within a county of the second class and counties of the second through eighth classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land development ordinances, planned residential development and other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition of such land;

to promote the conservation of energy through the use of planning practices and to promote the effective utilization of renewable energy sources;

providing for transferable courtsdevelopment andrights; penalties for violations;

andproviding repealingfor actsappropriations, andoappeals partsto ofcourts acts,"and inpenalties zoning GENERAL PROVISIONS, providing for <--violations; pause on data center proposals.

and repealing acts and parts of acts," in zoning, providing for pause on data center proposals.

Section 607.1607.1. 111.

Pause on Data Center Proposals.--(a) The <-- governing body of a municipality may adopt a resolution at a public meeting to impose a pause on the submission to the <-- municipality of applications for data center developments under a zoning ordinance.

CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR DATA <-- CENTER DEVELOPMENTS UNDER A LAND USE ORDINANCE.

DURING THE PAUSE, THE NUMBER OF DAYS PROVIDED TO SATISFY TIME LIMITS IMPOSED BY LAW IN REVIEW, HEARING AND DECISION ON AN APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PAUSE SHALL BE SUSPENDED AND TOLLED AS OF THE DATE RECEIVED AND SHALL RESUME UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THE PAUSE.

§ 709 § 709(C.1) (relating to public notice).

<--(c) (C)During Athe MUNICIPALITYpause, MAYthe NOTmunicipality CONSIDERmay ANadopt, APPLICATIONamend FORor Arepeal <--provisions DATAof CENTERa DEVELOPMENTzoning BYordinance CHANGINGrelating THEto AGENDAdata UNDERcenter 65developments PA.C.S.in accordance with law.

§An 712.1(E)application (RELATINGfor TOa NOTIFICATIONdata OFcenter AGENCYdevelopment BUSINESSsubmitted REQUIREDduring ANDthe EXCEPTIONS).pause shall be subject to the zoning ordinance provisions as adopted, amended or repealed by the municipality under this subsection.

(c)(d) (D)As Duringused thein pause,this section, the municipalityterm may"data adopt,center" amendshall <--mean ora repealfacility provisionsor group of afacilities, zoningincluding LANDancillary USEuses ordinanceor relatingassociated structures located on the same tract or parcel of land, that are predominantly used to <--house working servers or similar data centerstorage developmentssystems inand accordancethat withhave law.an uninterruptible energy supply or generator backup power, or both, cooling systems, towers and other temperature control infrastructure.

AnSection application2. for a data center development submitted during the pause shall be subject to the zoning LAND USE ordinance provisions as <-- adopted, amended or repealed by the municipality under this subsection.

ANThis APPLICATIONact THATshall IStake SUBMITTEDeffect TOin THE60 MUNICIPALITYdays. <-- DURING THE PAUSE SHALL BE DEEMED RECEIVED THE DAY AFTER THE PAUSE ENDS.

(d)20260HB2496PN3381 As used in this section, the term "data center" shall <-- mean a facility or group of facilities, including ancillary uses 20260HB2496PN3628 - 2 - or associated structures located on the same tract or parcel of land, that are predominantly used to house working servers or similar data storage systems and that have an uninterruptible energy supply or generator backup power, or both, cooling systems, towers and other temperature control infrastructure.

(E) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES <-- SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"DATA CENTER." ALL OR PART OF A FACILITY COMPOSED OF ONE OR MORE BUSINESSES, OWNERS OR TENANTS, AND THAT:

(1) IS PREDOMINANTLY USED TO HOUSE WORKING SERVERS OR SIMILAR DATA STORAGE SYSTEMS;

(2) HAS AN UNINTERRUPTIBLE ENERGY SUPPLY OR GENERATOR BACKUP POWER, OR BOTH, COOLING SYSTEMS, TOWERS OR OTHER TEMPERATURE CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE;

OR (3) HAS A PEAK DEMAND OF 25 MEGAWATTS OR GREATER.

"MUNICIPALITY." THE TERM INCLUDES A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS.

<-- Section 2.

This act shall take effect in 60 days <-- IMMEDIATELY.

<-- 20260HB2496PN3628 - 3 -