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Bill

S 6394

Relates to the regulation of energy consumption by data centers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Fahy and 2 co-sponsors

Requires benchmarking and energy-efficiency standards for data centers, with reporting to state agencies to curb power use and reduce environmental impact.

PRINT NUMBER 6394B
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Bill Summary · S 6394

Summary of S 6394A: Relates to the regulation of energy consumption by data centers

Overview

  • Bill Number: S 6394A (PRINT NUMBER 6394A)
  • Title: Relates to the regulation of energy consumption by data centers
  • Purpose (as indicated by the title): Establishes a regulatory framework governing energy use by data centers.
  • Introduced: March 13, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Kristen Gonzalez
  • Cosponsor: Rachel May
  • Related bills: S 9960 (prior-session), A 9086 (companion)
  • Current status: Amended and recomposed as S6394A; originally referred to Energy and Telecommunications; later actions indicate progression to Environmental Conservation committee

Legislative Actions & Timeline

  • 2025-03-13: Referred to the Energy and Telecommunications committee
  • 2025-05-19: Reported and committed to Environmental Conservation
  • 2025-06-09: Amended and recomitted to Environmental Conservation; PRINT NUMBER 6394A issued
  • Status reflects progression within the Senate toward final passage, with amendments affecting committee jurisdiction

What the bill would do (Based on the title and available context)

  • The bill aims to regulate energy consumption by data centers. While the exact text of provisions is not provided in the materials here, such measures typically address:
    • Energy-use benchmarking or reporting requirements for data centers
    • Establishment of efficiency or performance standards
    • Compliance timelines and deadlines for operators
    • Possible enforcement or penalty provisions for noncompliance
    • Roles for state agencies in administering the program (likely environmental or energy agencies)

Note: The precise mechanisms (e.g., specific metrics, thresholds, reporting formats, penalties, or exemptions) are not disclosed in the provided documents. The final text will specify the detailed requirements.

Who would be affected

  • Data center operators and owners within the jurisdiction of the bill
  • Potentially, affiliated facilities and service providers (e.g., colocation centers, hyperscale operators) subject to data-center energy regulations
  • State agencies responsible for environmental conservation and energy regulation (as oversight/administrative entities)

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Placement in committee and subsequent amendments indicate ongoing refinement before final passage
  • The amended version, S6394A, suggests changes to the original text, potentially addressing concerns raised during committee review

Legislative context

  • Sponsorship suggests bipartisan/common objectives around energy efficiency and environmental stewardship
  • The companion/related bills (S 9960, A 9086) indicate parallel or prior efforts; there may be a companion bill in the Assembly and prior-session efforts informing this measure

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Environmental and energy-efficiency goals: could promote reduced energy consumption and improved data-center efficiency
  • Economic considerations: possible regulatory compliance costs for operators, with potential transitional timelines
  • Data availability: benchmarking/reporting requirements would require data collection from facilities
  • Implementation: depends on final language regarding agencies, enforcement, deadlines, and any exemptions or phased-in timelines

Next steps for readers

  • Review the final text of S6394A to understand specific standards, reporting formats, enforcement provisions, and any exemptions
  • Monitor committee actions in Environmental Conservation for amendments, votes, and projected passage
  • Compare with related bills (S 9960 and A 9086) and the companion to gauge consistency and potential regional applicability

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize regulatory impacts on operators, environmental outcomes, or administrative processes once the final text of S6394A becomes available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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