DeSantis Signs Law Shielding Floridians from Data Center Costs

LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 on May 8, 2026, during a news conference at Florida Polytechnic University, ensuring hyperscale data centers consuming 50 megawatts or more at peak do not pass utility costs to residents. 'It protects consumers from footing the bill for any hyperscale data center in the state of Florida,' DeSantis said, according to the governor's office press release and video from the event. The law, now Chapter 2026-65 per Florida Senate records, mandates public utilities to impose minimum tariffs and prohibits cost-shifting to ratepayers. The legislation addresses water use critically, requiring water management districts and the Department of Environmental Protection to deny consumptive use permits if data centers detrimentally impact local resources, with reclaimed water mandated when available. Public meetings are now required for permit discussions, enhancing transparency for communities near potential sites like those proposed in Central Florida. Florida Senate Bill 484 text specifies local governments retain comprehensive planning and land development authority over these 'large load customers,' countering prior limits from Senate Bill 180. As Florida grapples with surging foreclosures — ranking third-worst nationally amid skyrocketing insurance costs — this law prioritizes household budgets by safeguarding utility rates. It aligns with recent state actions like DeSantis' transportation infrastructure bill for Central Florida highways and $50 million in hurricane prep funds, balancing tech growth against resident economic pressures from housing crises and infrastructure strains. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability must now contract a study on large-scale data center construction and operations. Signed after Senate passage on May 6 and gubernatorial approval May 7, per Florida Senate records, the law takes effect July 1, positioning Florida to attract data centers responsibly amid national trends in AI expansion.