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Bill > HB496
VA HB496
VA HB496Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.
summary
Introduced
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
In Committee
03/02/2026
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
03/14/2026
03/14/2026
Passed
03/30/2026
03/30/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes and from data centers. Requires any water user required to register water withdrawal and use data to the State Water Control Board that provides water to another person offsite to include in its report, submitted on its regular reporting schedule, the total volume of potable water and, reported separately, the total volume of reclaimed water, as defined in the bill, provided during each month for each of the following categories: (i) a data center with an air permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality and (ii) to the extent available without utility billing system modifications, (a) domestic purposes, (b) commercial and industrial purposes, separately or combined as available, and (c) all other non-categorized purposes. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 553.
AI Summary
This bill requires water users who are already mandated to report their water withdrawal and usage data to also report the total volume of potable water and, separately, reclaimed water they provide each month to specific recipients. This includes data centers that have an air permit from the Department of Environmental Quality, as well as domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes, and any other non-categorized uses, to the extent this information can be obtained without modifying utility billing systems. Reclaimed water, defined as treated wastewater or non-potable water that has been repurposed, will be reported separately from potable water in any public summaries or planning documents. This change aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of water consumption, particularly for large users like data centers, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (10)
Elizabeth Guzmán (D)*,
Jessica Anderson (D),
Nadarius Clark (D),
Joshua Cole (D),
Nicole Cole (D),
Amy Laufer (D),
Destiny LeVere Bolling (D),
Sam Rasoul (D),
Charlie Schmidt (D),
Shelly Simonds (D),
Last Action
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (on 03/31/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496ER |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496H2 |
| Conference Report HB496 | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496AC |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496S1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496H1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496HC1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB496/text/HB496 |
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