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Bill > SB393
VA SB393
VA SB393Virginia's Great Outdoors Act; established, creates data center land conservation tax.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/14/2026
03/14/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Virginia's Great Outdoors Act established; land preservation distributions and appropriations. Creates a data center land preservation tax on and after January 1, 2027, in an amount equal to $3 per square foot of each data center facility footprint, as defined in the bill, and directs no less than $250 million of revenues from the tax to be distributed for various land protection and preservation purposes, including into the Virginia Tribal Commitment Fund, as created in the bill. The bill also repeals provisions requiring the Governor to include in the budget bill or in his amendments to the general appropriation act a recommended appropriation from the general fund, up to $20 million, for land preservation as follows: (i) 80 percent of the unissued credits to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, of which at least 50 percent must be used for acquisitions with public access; (ii) 10 percent to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund; and (iii) 10 percent to the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Virginia's Great Outdoors Act," establishes a new tax on data centers and dedicates a significant portion of the revenue to land preservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. Starting January 1, 2027, a tax of $3 per square foot will be levied on the footprint of data center facilities, with an exemption for those smaller than 25,000 square feet. Beginning July 1, 2028, at least $250 million from this data center tax revenue will be distributed annually to various funds and programs, including the State Park Conservation Resources Fund, for infrastructure improvements on public lands, the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, for acquiring land and interests in land, and for establishing a statewide trail system, among other specific allocations. The bill also creates the Virginia Tribal Commitment Fund to support Virginia tribes with nation-building, cultural revitalization, and land acquisition. Additionally, this act repeals existing provisions that required the Governor to recommend appropriations from the general fund for land preservation, effectively replacing that funding mechanism with the new data center tax revenue.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (on 02/10/2026)
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/SB393 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB393/text/SB393 |
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