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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Earlier this week, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed a bill requiring data centers to pay for their own infrastructure or improvements to prevent power companies from unjustly raising rates as regulating artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key focus of this year’s legislative session.
SB2128 by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) states that the cost of a data center’s new or upgraded electrical infrastructure cannot be absorbed or subsidized by a municipal or electric utility except in limited circumstances which are listed in the bill.
“This bill will clarify that cities and counties and electrical utilities, including co-ops and public utilities, cannot use ratepayer money to cover the data center’s required costs, so there’s no subsides for data centers,” Sen. Taylor explained. “This legislation is designed to protect utility ratepayers from the higher electric bills due to massive data center growth.”
There were no questions or comments from committee members before the vote, which was a unanimous 9-0 in favor. SB2128 will now move to the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.
House companion bill HB1847 is also making progress, having passed the House Commerce Committee in March and on the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee calendar for Tuesday, April 14.
Though it was placed behind the budget in early April, HB1847’s being on notice for next week may indicate the sponsor has procured the necessary funding, removed the need for funding, or the subcommittee is anticipating the legislation’s cost to be insignificant enough to be covered in the budget.
If you support HB1847, use the information below to contact members of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee.
House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee – HB1847 scheduled to be heard 4.15.26
HB1847 requires data centers to pay for their own infrastructure or improvements to prevent power companies from unjustly raising rates for consumers.
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
