New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey S4400: Water use by large-scale data centers-conduct study of short & long term effects
Status: In committee, October 8, 2026
Requires DEP to conduct study of short and long term effects of water use by large-scale data centers.
What the bill says
An Act requiring DEP to conduct an evaluation of the effects of water use by large-scale data centers.
From the introduced text, June 4, 2026:
An Act requiring DEP to conduct an evaluation of the effects of water use by large-scale data centers. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. As used in this act: Artificial intelligence or AI means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. Board means the Board of Public Utilities. Department means the Department of Environmental Protection. Large-scale data center means a facility primarily used for the storage, management, and processing of digital or artificial intelligence data that meets or exceeds thresholds established by the department, in consultation with the board, based on factors including, but not limited to, water use, electric demand, physical size, cooling capacity, computing capacity, or other indicators of substantial resource consumption. Large-scale data center includes facilities that house computer and network systems, including servers, network equipment and appliances, telecommunications, storage systems, monitoring systems, Internet-related equipment and services, data communications connections, environmental controls, fire protection systems, and security systems and services. 2. a. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the department shall conduct an evaluation of the effects of water use by large-scale data centers on drinking water systems, wastewater systems, and the environment. The evaluation shall …
Sponsors
- Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D, 18) · primary sponsor
- James Beach (D, 6) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : REF SBA
- : REP 2RS
- : INT 1RS REF SEN
Votes
- Senate Environment and Energy Committee: Reported favorably (October 8, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: ENVIRONMENT
Common questions
- What is S4400?
- S4400 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Water use by large-scale data centers-conduct study of short & long term effects.
- What does S4400 do?
- In its own words: An Act requiring DEP to conduct an evaluation of the effects of water use by large-scale data centers.
- What is the status of S4400?
- In committee as of October 8, 2026. Latest action: REF SBA (October 8, 2026).
- Who sponsored S4400?
- Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D, 18), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S4400?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S4400
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.