HB 2246 (Pennsylvania, 2025-2026) — Summary
Overview
- Title: An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in water resources planning, further providing for State water plan and providing for covered data centers; and promulgating regulations.
- Purpose (intent): To modify provisions related to water resources planning in the State Water Plan, expand or clarify regulatory authority over water resources planning, and establish or regulate a category of “covered data centers” with respect to water resources or related regulatory requirements. The bill also contemplates promulgating regulations to carry out these changes.
- Status: As of April 15, 2026, the bill has progressed through multiple stages in the House, including first consideration, committee referral, reported as committed, tabled, and re-committed to Appropriations. The action history shows a path typical of a bill under active consideration with amendments and potential fiscal review.
Key Provisions (as described by the bill’s title and committee actions)
- State Water Plan enhancements:
- Amends Title 27 to advance or refine the State Water Plan, with a focus on water resources planning.
- May introduce new planning standards, data requirements, or process steps for planning at the state level, potentially affecting how water supply, demand, infrastructure, and environmental considerations are evaluated and coordinated.
- Covered Data Centers:
- Establishes or designates a category of “covered data centers” within the environmental resources framework.
- Likely to impose certain regulatory or planning requirements on these facilities (e.g., water use, sourcing, environmental impact considerations, reporting obligations). The term “covered data centers” typically refers to large-scale data processing facilities that may have notable water and energy footprints, though the bill’s text would define the precise scope and thresholds.
- Regulatory Promulgation:
- Authorizes or requires the Department to promulgate regulations to implement the new or amended provisions.
- This could include rules related to siting, permitting, reporting, water use efficiency, drought resilience, and data center-specific impacts on water resources.
- Fiscal/Appropriations Considerations:
- The bill has been referred to and considered by the Appropriations Committee as part of the process, indicating potential budgetary implications or funding needs for implementing the new planning requirements or data center regulations.
- Specific fiscal impacts would be detailed in fiscal notes or budgetary sections accompanying the bill.
Who is Affected
- State agencies and the Department of Environmental Protection (or the relevant environmental resources department) responsible for water planning, permitting, and regulation.
- Data center operators and developers classified as “covered data centers” under the bill’s provisions.
- Local governments and water authorities that rely on or interact with the State Water Plan for resource allocation, permitting, or regional planning.
- The public, through potential increases in transparency, reporting requirements, or environmental safeguards associated with water use and data center activity.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- The bill has undergone standard legislative steps, including:
- Referred to Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee (February 25, 2026)
- Reported as committed (March 23, 2026)
- Laid on the table (March 23, 2026) and subsequently removed from the table
- Re-committed to Appropriations (April 15, 2026)
- Second consideration (April 15, 2026)
- The ongoing path through the House suggests continued consideration, potential amendments, and a fiscal note review before final passage.
- If enacted, regulatory timelines would depend on promulgation schedules set by the Department and any transition provisions included in the act.
Notes and Considerations
- Specific definitions (e.g., what constitutes a “covered data center,” thresholds, and exemptions) and the precise scope of the State Water Plan amendments are essential to determine practical impact.
- The balance between regulatory oversight and business/industrial impact will hinge on the regulatory framework established in forthcoming rules and any phased implementation.
- Potential environmental benefits include improved planning coordination, more robust data on water use, and safeguards for high-water-use facilities. Potential burdens may include compliance costs for data centers and municipalities, and administrative costs for agencies to implement new regulations.
For readers seeking detail, reviewing the bill text would provide exact definitions, regulatory provisions, statutory changes, and any fiscal notes associated with HB 2246.
