Florida's New Data Center Framework

CS/CS/SB 484

CS/CS/SB 484 (2026), Data Centers, became Chapter 2026-65, Laws of Florida. It passed the Senate 31–6 and the House 92–16 and took effect July 1, 2026. The law establishes requirements for large-load customers and large-scale data centers, addresses electric service costs, creates additional water-permitting requirements, modifies public records provisions, addresses certain foreign ownership and control, and preserves local government authority over comprehensive planning and land development regulation.

SB 484 also requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to contract for an independent study examining the economic, environmental, energy, public-health, and public-safety impacts of large-scale data centers. The study is due July 1, 2027. Florida has therefore moved toward a regulatory framework specifically addressing the infrastructure demands of large-scale computing.