Bill Sponsor
Virginia House Bill 1601
Session 2025
Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.
Active
Active
Vetoed by Governor on May 2, 2025
First Action
Jan 3, 2025
Latest Action
May 2, 2025
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1601
State
Virginia
Session
2025
Sponsorship by Party
House Votes (7)
Senate Votes (6)
Motion Text
House rejected Governor's recommendation (11-Y 85-N)
House Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Summary
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.4, relating to siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. 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 is identical to SB 1449.
Documents (1)
Impact statement from CLG (HB1601)
05/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Vetoed by Governor
04/02/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025
04/02/2025
House
Communicated to Governor
04/02/2025
House
Motion to pass in enrolled form rejected (51-Y 44-N)
04/02/2025
House
House rejected Governor's recommendation (11-Y 85-N)
03/24/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation received by House
03/11/2025
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
03/11/2025
House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
03/10/2025
Senate
Signed by President
03/07/2025
House
Signed by Speaker
03/07/2025
House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1601ER)
03/07/2025
House
Enrolled
02/22/2025
House
Conference report agreed to by House (55-Y 44-N)
02/21/2025
Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 13-N 1-A)
02/21/2025
House
Conference substitute printed 25107870D-H1
02/21/2025
Virginia General Assembly
Amended by conference committee
02/20/2025
Senate
Senators: Ebbin, McPike, Hackworth
02/20/2025
Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
02/19/2025
House
Delegates: Thomas, Sewell, Morefield
02/19/2025
House
Conferees appointed by House
02/19/2025
House
House acceded to request
02/18/2025
Senate
Senate requested conference committee
02/18/2025
Senate
Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N)
02/14/2025
House
Senate substitute rejected by House (Y-2 N-94 A-0)
02/12/2025
Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 10-N 1-A)
02/12/2025
Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
02/12/2025
Senate
Local Government Substitute agreed to
02/12/2025
Senate
Reading of substitute waived
02/12/2025
Senate
Read third time
02/11/2025
Senate
Passed by for the day
02/11/2025
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
02/11/2025
Senate
Rules suspended
02/10/2025
Senate
Committee substitute printed 25107109D-S1
02/10/2025
Senate
Reported from Local Government with substitute (11-Y 3-N 1-A)
01/24/2025
Senate
Referred to Committee on Local Government
01/24/2025
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
01/23/2025
House
Read third time and passed House (57-Y 40-N)
01/22/2025
House
Printed as engrossed 25102219D-E
01/22/2025
House
Engrossed by House as amended
01/22/2025
House
Counties, Cities and Towns Amendments agreed to
01/22/2025
House
Read second time
01/21/2025
House
Read first time
01/17/2025
House
Impact statement from CLG (HB1601)
01/17/2025
House
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N)
01/16/2025
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N)
01/13/2025
House
Assigned CCT sub: Subcommittee #2
01/03/2025
House
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
01/03/2025
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102219D
Sources
Record Created
Jan 3, 2025 4:55:17 PM
Record Updated
Nov 7, 2025 5:00:49 PM