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HB 5620WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill Preempts Local Zoning and Building Rules for Data Centers and Microgrid Districts

Original title: To restore local control in the decision making process in regard to data centers

Last action · February 16, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsor: Laura Kimble

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 5620 exempts certified high-impact data centers and microgrid districts from all county and municipal zoning, land use, building permitting, code enforcement, and licensing requirements across West Virginia. The measure designates a Data Economy Liaison within the Department of Commerce to coordinate project development and explicitly bars local governments from enacting rules that limit these facilities.

Why it matters

Local governments lose all authority to regulate or zone data centers and microgrid projects within their boundaries, while these facilities remain obligated to pay local property, business and occupation, and sales taxes, as well as utility and municipal service fees.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Counties and municipalities

Counties and municipalities lose all authority to enforce local zoning, building codes, land use restrictions, and local ordinances on certified data centers and microgrid districts.

Directly affected

Owners and operators of certified microgrid districts and certified high impact data centers

Developers and operators are exempt from local zoning, building permits, and municipal regulations, while remaining subject to local property taxes, business taxes, and utility fees.

Directly affected

Utility customers outside of microgrid districts

Utility customers residing outside of microgrid districts are shielded from paying construction or operational costs for utility property built solely to serve a microgrid district.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can local towns and counties enforce zoning or building codes on data centers under this bill?
No. The bill explicitly prohibits counties and municipalities from subjecting s and high-impact data centers to local zoning, land use, building permitting, inspection, code enforcement, or licensing requirements.
Are data centers and microgrid projects exempt from paying local taxes?
No. Owners, operators, managers, and tenants must still pay local business and occupation taxes, municipal sales and service taxes, use taxes, and es at the same millage rates as other commercial ventures.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions
  1. Feb 16, 2026HouseCommittee
    To House Judiciary
  2. Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House
  3. Feb 16, 2026HouseCommittee
    To Judiciary
  4. Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Laura KimbleHouse · District 71RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Complete State Preemption of Local Authority for Data Centers

The legislation systematically removes county and municipal authority over zoning, building codes, permitting, and licensing specifically for certified microgrid districts and high impact data centers.

Department of Economic DevelopmentDepartment of CommercePublic Service Commission

Connected Entities

Department of Transportation, Public Service Commission, Department of Economic Development and 2 more
OrganizationDepartment of Transportation“State department authorized to take actions in support of project development.”Map →
OrganizationPublic Service Commission“Commission under whose rules utilities must enter into contracts for services wi”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Economic Development“State agency tasked with assisting certified microgrid district projects.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Commerce“State department whose Secretary certifies microgrid districts and data centers ”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Protection“State department authorized to take actions in support of project development.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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