Data Centers and Infrastructure Considerations

Legislators also considered issues related to data centers and the physical infrastructure supporting advanced computing systems, including artificial intelligence applications. Topics discussed during Session included land-use considerations, energy demand, utility capacity, infrastructure planning, and cost allocation for large-scale computing facilities. These issues reflect broader national policy discussions concerning the expansion of data center infrastructure and its impacts on electricity demand, water use, local zoning and planning decisions, and long-term utility investment planning. The only AI-related bill enrolled in Florida this year was SB484 (officially recorded as Chapter 2026-65), which introduces a regulatory and consumer-protection framework for "large-scale data centers" (facilities with a peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more).

Comparable policy developments are under active consideration in other jurisdictions, including California, Texas, Virginia, and New York, where states continue to evaluate infrastructure implications associated with large-scale computing and cloud-based systems. For attorneys representing developers, utilities, local governments, economic development authorities, or institutional technology users, these issues may involve public disclosure of agreements, permitting requirements, land-use regulation, utility regulation, contractual allocation of infrastructure costs, and project development risk management.