SB 553 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.

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 HB 496.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from a Senate Substitute to a House Substitute, which completely changed the subject matter. The original version focused on water resource management and data reporting for data centers, while the new version focuses on zoning regulations, specifically allowing localities to impose stricter conditions on special use permits for alcohol retailers and affordable housing.
Scope change
The scope shifted entirely from water supply planning and data center water usage reporting to zoning ordinances and commercial facility permits.
SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to water resource management, river basin planning, and mandatory water withdrawal data reporting for data centers.

Changed the referenced Virginia Code section from 62.1-44.38 (water resources) to 15.2-2286 (zoning ordinances).

REQUIREMENT

Added provisions allowing local governments to impose automatic expiration or review conditions on special use permits for retail alcohol licensees upon changes in ownership or management.

Added requirements that conditions on affordable housing special use permits must not negatively impact housing affordability, including a minimum three-year validity period for residential permits.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 5, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
44
Key actions
13
Committee
10
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 896 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB553ER)
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference report agreed to by House (74-Y 22-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference report agreed to by Senate (25-Y 14-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 14, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Conference Report released
legislature
Mar 5, 2026
Committee
House requested conference committee
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (81-Y 18-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (18-Y 3-N 1-A)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (9-Y 4-N 1-A)
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors