---
title: HB 1012. Local government; construction or development of new data centers for a specified time; prohibit
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1012
cite_as: HB 1012, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72319
date: 2026-01-28
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1011.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1013.md
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1012
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-16
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Ruwa Romman
- Jordan Ridley
- Mary Oliver
- Spencer Frye
- Gabriel Sanchez
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1012/2025
upstream_id: 2085237
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- data centers
- local government permitting
- environmental impact
- land use regulation
---
# HB 1012. Local government; construction or development of new data centers for a specified time; prohibit
## Text
House Bill 1012
By: Representatives Romman of the 97th, Ridley of the 22nd, Oliver of the 84th, and Frye of
the 122nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions of local government, so as to prohibit the construction or development of
new data centers for a specified time; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for an
exception; to provide for a definition; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions of local government, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"36-80-32.
(a) The General Assembly finds and declares it to be the policy of this state that although
data centers are a valuable economic resource, it is in the public interest to pause new
construction so that the impact of such data centers on the natural resources, environment,
and vital areas of this state can be fully understood. The state has an essential public
interest in establishing minimum standards for land use in order to protect and preserve its
natural resources, environment, and vital areas.
(b) As used in this Code section, the term 'data center' shall mean a facility, campus of
facilities, or array of interconnected facilities which houses working servers and that is
developed to cool, secure, and connect data associated with applications and services.
(c) Under the authority granted by Article III, Section VI, Paragraph II(a)(1) of the
Constitution of Georgia, between the effective date of this Act and March 1, 2027, no
county, municipal corporation, local authority, or other political subdivision of the state
shall issue any permits, license, or certificates pursuant to this title or Title 8, 12, or 25 that
would authorize or allow for the construction or development of a data center.
(d) The prohibition provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section shall not apply to
any permits, licenses, or certificates issued prior to July 1, 2026, for the purpose of
constructing a data center."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon the approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 1012 would temporarily block Georgia counties and cities from issuing permits for new data center construction, pausing such projects statewide until March 1, 2027.
### Plain-language summary
Data centers, the large facilities that house computer servers for cloud storage and online services, have been expanding rapidly across Georgia. This bill adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-80-32) that pauses new data center construction statewide so lawmakers can study the impact of these facilities on natural resources and the environment before more are built.
The bill defines a data center broadly as any facility or group of connected facilities that houses working servers to cool, secure, and connect data. From when the bill takes effect through March 1, 2027, no county, city, or other local government could issue permits, licenses, or certificates under several titles of Georgia law that would allow building or developing a data center. The pause would not apply to permits already issued before July 1, 2026 for data center construction that is already underway. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 36-80-32) that bars local governments from issuing permits, licenses, or certificates for new data center construction.
- Sets the pause to run from the bill's effective date through March 1, 2027.
- Defines 'data center' broadly to cover any facility, campus, or group of connected facilities that houses servers to cool, secure, and connect data.
- Exempts permits, licenses, or certificates already issued before July 1, 2026 for data centers already being built.
- States the legislature's reasoning: pausing construction so the impact of data centers on natural resources and the environment can be studied.
### Who it affects
Data center developers and technology companies planning new facilities in Georgia, county and municipal governments that issue construction and land use permits, and local authorities responsible for permitting under Georgia's title, water, energy, and environmental laws.
### Why it matters
For roughly a year, no new data center could get local permits anywhere in Georgia, which would delay or stop planned projects and the jobs, tax revenue, and electricity demand that come with them, while giving the state time to study the facilities' effects on land and natural resources.
### Key provisions
- Subsection (a) states the legislature's finding that pausing new data center construction serves the public interest while impacts on natural resources and the environment are studied.
- Subsection (b) defines 'data center' as a facility, campus, or interconnected array of facilities housing servers used to cool, secure, and connect data.
- Subsection (c) prohibits counties, municipalities, local authorities, and other political subdivisions from issuing permits, licenses, or certificates under Titles 8, 12, 25, or 36 that would allow data center construction, from the effective date through March 1, 2027.
- Subsection (d) exempts permits, licenses, or certificates issued before July 1, 2026 for data centers already being built.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-16)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-28)
- Sponsors: Ruwa Romman, Jordan Ridley, Mary Oliver, Spencer Frye, Gabriel Sanchez
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72319
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1012.md?full=1