May 11, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Ron DeSantis has signed a new law in Florida regulating how large data centers are built, powered, and financed. The law, SB 484, prevents utilities from shifting data center infrastructure costs onto residential and small-business customers, requires large users to pay their full service costs, and restricts utilities from serving data centers owned or controlled by certain foreign countries of concern.
The law also keeps local governments in Florida in control of zoning, permitting, and planning, allowing them to set stricter rules or reject projects. It introduces a dedicated permitting system for large data centers, treating major changes as new applications. It further restricts water use by limiting when permits can be issued to large data centers and allows reclaimed water to be used toward compliance requirements.
“Today in Lakeland, I signed legislation to protect our citizens and communities from hyperscale data centers. These are much-needed protections for taxpayers and our natural resources,” said DeSantis. “SB 484 ensures that local governments maintain the authority to reject data center development in their communities, prevents data center costs from being passed on to consumers, including electricity costs, and protects Florida’s water resources from data center consumption.”
The bill passed unanimously in the Florida Senate (37–0), cleared the House with a 92–16 vote, and received final Senate approval by 31–6. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Florida joins a growing number of states introducing laws aimed at shielding utility ratepayers from the costs of rapid data center expansion.
