Committee approves data‑center rules and public‑records exemption bills after stakeholder debate
February 03, 2026 | 2026 Legislature FL, Florida
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The Senate Community Affairs Committee voted to report favorably on measures aimed at regulating large electricity users and protecting proprietary information tied to prospective data‑center projects.
Sen. Avila said SB 484 updates state law for "large load" customers, including hyperscale data centers, by directing the Public Service Commission to develop minimum tariff requirements to ensure large customers pay the cost of their service and to reduce the risk that general ratepayers absorb those costs. She also said the bill limits certain consumptive‑use permits for large data centers if water permitting would harm area resources.
The committee approved an amendment that added a knowledge‑based element to a prohibition on public utilities knowingly providing service to large‑load customers associated with a foreign country of concern; the amendment was adopted without dissent. Industry and economic‑development representatives including the James Madison Institute and Associated Industries of Florida testified in support but flagged concerns about nondisclosure agreements, timing of new rules relative to pending tariffs, and whether data centers will be treated differently than other large industrial customers.
SB 1118, a companion measure, was described by the sponsor as a public‑records exemption allowing counties or municipalities to withhold certain proprietary business information about a company's plans to site a data center for up to one year, consistent with economic‑development exemptions. Supporters argued the exemption protects competitiveness and prevents land‑price spikes; critics warned about overuse of NDAs and local secrecy. The committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably.
The bills will proceed to additional committee stops. Sponsors said they expect to continue negotiations with industry and local governments to refine the definitions and timing of any regulatory or confidentiality provisions.
Sen. Avila said SB 484 updates state law for "large load" customers, including hyperscale data centers, by directing the Public Service Commission to develop minimum tariff requirements to ensure large customers pay the cost of their service and to reduce the risk that general ratepayers absorb those costs. She also said the bill limits certain consumptive‑use permits for large data centers if water permitting would harm area resources.
The committee approved an amendment that added a knowledge‑based element to a prohibition on public utilities knowingly providing service to large‑load customers associated with a foreign country of concern; the amendment was adopted without dissent. Industry and economic‑development representatives including the James Madison Institute and Associated Industries of Florida testified in support but flagged concerns about nondisclosure agreements, timing of new rules relative to pending tariffs, and whether data centers will be treated differently than other large industrial customers.
SB 1118, a companion measure, was described by the sponsor as a public‑records exemption allowing counties or municipalities to withhold certain proprietary business information about a company's plans to site a data center for up to one year, consistent with economic‑development exemptions. Supporters argued the exemption protects competitiveness and prevents land‑price spikes; critics warned about overuse of NDAs and local secrecy. The committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably.
The bills will proceed to additional committee stops. Sponsors said they expect to continue negotiations with industry and local governments to refine the definitions and timing of any regulatory or confidentiality provisions.
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