Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill creating new regulations for artificial intelligence (AI) hyperscale data centers, including protections for ratepayers, during a press conference in Lakeland this week.
The bill (SB 484) also includes protections for the environment.
"These are much-needed protections for taxpayers and our natural resources,” Gov. DeSantis said in a statement. “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.”
More specifically, SB 484 bans utilities from shifting data center costs, including electricity charges, onto residential and small business customers. The bill also mandates that large-scale users pay the full price of service, while negating a financial burden to residents.
In addition, the legislative measure regulates AI data centers over their water consumption and data usage. This includes a ban on water management districts by issuing permits for water usage that is considered dangerous to local resources, while boosting the use of reclaimed water.
SB 484 also strengthens communities by allowing them to set standards, deny projects, and guarantee data centers are appropriately classified and regulated. Moreover, the bill mandates disclosure of data center development agreements after the exemption period for further transparency and bans utilities from serving data centers operated by foreign countries of concern.
Foreign countries of concern in Florida are China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela.
Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville), Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola), and Bryan Avila (R-Miami) sponsored the bill in the Senate. Rep. Philip Wayne "Griff" Griffitts Jr. (R-Panama City Beach) championed the House version.
Gov. DeSantis has prioritized AI protections since late last year. The Florida Legislature also attempted to pass an AI Bill of Rights during April's Special Legislative Session, but the bill failed to pass in the House, leaving the governor disappointed.
