06/29/2026
New law July 1st.
⚡ Florida's first major data center law takes effect July 1, and it tackles many of the exact concerns that have fueled grassroots opposition movements across the state, from rural Citrus County to Fort Meade.
SB 484 requires large data centers to pay for their own electricity service costs, preventing utilities from passing those expenses on to residential and small business ratepayers. It bans public utilities from providing power to major data centers owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern. The law also creates a new "consumptive use permit" specifically for large-scale data centers, giving water management districts and the Department of Environmental Protection authority to require these facilities to use reclaimed water as a condition of approval rather than drawing from limited freshwater supplies.
Several other provisions target transparency and legal loopholes that have plagued local governments negotiating with developers. Agencies are now barred from signing non-disclosure agreements about potential data center projects, ensuring residents can access information about deals being discussed in their communities. The law also closes a loophole that would have let high-power data centers claim special legal protections normally reserved for electric substations. Importantly, SB 484 preserves local governments' full authority over zoning, permitting, and land use, meaning cities and counties retain the power to set stricter standards or reject data center projects outright. The law takes effect alongside more than 100 other new Florida laws on July 1 🔍.
📌 Sourced from verified news outlets. We summarize, we don't report.
