The County, Cities and Towns Subcommittee No. 2 advanced House Bill 1601 by a 5–3 vote, requiring local site assessments for proposed data center projects to include information on sound and the electrical transmission infrastructure that would serve the site, Delegate Thomas said during the committee meeting.

The bill, which Delegate Thomas described as building on legislation considered in 2024 and responding to a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report, adds two required elements to local site assessments and clarifies that localities may consider multiple listed factors. "Two things can be true at the same time," Delegate Thomas said, urging transparency so local governments have the information they need before making siting decisions. The bill also adds the proviso that "nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit limit or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority," language the sponsor said was intended to avoid preempting local land-use control.

Supporters said the measure improves transparency and equips local officials with information about noise and upstream transmission impacts. Dan Holmes of the Piedmont Environmental Council said the bill is "part of a very large puzzle of data center reforms" and urged the subcommittee to forward it to the full committee. Peter Anderson of Appalachian Voices said making decisions with complete information is "foundational to good governance." Morgan Butler of the Southern Environmental Law Center said clarifying authority for localities to request information is important.

Industry and economic development witnesses raised concerns. Elizabeth Parker, representing Virginia's Electric Cooperatives, said cooperatives are distribution-only entities and thus "would not be able to provide the generation information as required in this bill." Vince Barnett of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership warned that the proposed utility information mandates could "cast doubts in the marketplace" and slow project timelines. Glenn Davis, director at the Department of Energy, said uniform requirements could impose unnecessary costs on localities and utilities that do not face Northern Virginia–style demand pressures.

The subcommittee considered an amendment clarifying that localities could select one or more of the listed assessment items, and a later provision requiring the sound and transmission information be included in site assessments. After debate and a vote, the clerk recorded the motion to report with amendments as passed 5–3. The measure now moves to the full committee for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 1601 — Motion to report with amendments passed 5–3 (roll call tally provided by clerk; individual vote names not specified in the transcript).