North Carolina legislation · 2025-2026 Session
North Carolina S730: Ratepayer Protection Act.
Status: In committee, June 8, 2026
What the bill says
An act to establish requirements for siting and operation of data centers and to make various changes to state energy and utilities policy.
From the amended text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR SITING AND OPERATION OF DATA CENTERS AND TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO STATE ENERGY AND UTILITIES POLICY. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: PART I. REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA CENTERS REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL PROCESS SECTION 1.(a) Article 9 of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to other requirements. (a) Prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception, conditional or special use permit, or building permit for the siting of a new data center, a local government shall require that an applicant: (1) Perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the data center on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the data center property boundary. A locality may also require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed facility on the community with regard to (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) air quality, (iii) thermal plumes, (iv) agricultural resources, (v) parks, (vi) registered historic sites, and (vii) forestland on the data center site or immediately contiguous land. (2) Submit an attestation that the data center will employ a closed-loop water or a liquid cooling system that will result in minimization of water consumption for cooling systems to the …
Sponsors
- Jarvis, Steve (R, 30) · primary sponsor
- Newton, Buck (R, 4)
Latest actions
- : Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
- : Regular Message Received For Concurrence in H Com Sub
- : Regular Message Sent To Senate
- : Ordered Engrossed
- : Passed 3rd Reading
- : Passed 2nd Reading
- : Amend Tabled A6
- : Amend Tabled A5
- : Amend Tabled A4
- : Amend Tabled A3
Votes
- Ratepayer Protection Act. Second Reading Motion 12/Divide (June 3, 2026): 49 yea, 63 nay, failed
- Ratepayer Protection Act. Second Reading (June 3, 2026): 69 yea, 44 nay, passed
- Ratepayer Protection Act. A6 Rubin Second Reading M3 To Lay On The Table (June 3, 2026): 64 yea, 49 nay, passed
- Ratepayer Protection Act. A5 Longest Second Reading M3 To Lay On The Table (June 3, 2026): 65 yea, 49 nay, passed
- Ratepayer Protection Act. A4 Cervania Second Reading M3 To Lay On The Table (June 3, 2026): 63 yea, 50 nay, passed
- Ratepayer Protection Act. A3 Cervania Second Reading M3 To Lay On The Table (June 3, 2026): 62 yea, 50 nay, passed
Subjects: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRICITY GENERATION & DISTRIBUTION, UTILITIES, DAMS, PUBLIC
Common questions
- What is S730?
- S730 is a bill in the North Carolina Legislature (2025-2026 Session): Ratepayer Protection Act.
- What does S730 do?
- In its own words: An act to establish requirements for siting and operation of data centers and to make various changes to state energy and utilities policy.
- What is the status of S730?
- In committee as of June 8, 2026. Latest action: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (June 8, 2026).
- Who sponsored S730?
- Jarvis, Steve (R, 30), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S730?
- On the North Carolina Legislature website: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S730
Source: official North Carolina record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.