AB 840 Wisconsin Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: certain requirements related to data centers.

AB 840 regulates data centers in the state by requiring specific operational and environmental standards. It mandates that data centers use closed-loop cooling systems (recycling water instead of using fresh water) and report annual water usage to the department. The bill also requires renewable energy facilities serving data centers to be located on-site and prohibits utility customers from paying for data center infrastructure costs. Additionally, operators must provide financial bonds for construction and restore land if projects are abandoned. These provisions directly affect all data center operators and developers in the state.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes · Assembly Jan 20, 2026

How they voted

5543
Passed
Total votes 98
Jan 20, 2026
D Democratic46
3 Yea 43 Nay
93% Nay
R Republican52
52 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
11
Mar 23, 2026
Amended
Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Nass
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Utilities, Technology and Tourism, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 2)
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44, Paired 2
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Zimmerman
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Amended
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table, Ayes 55, Noes 43
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Stroud
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Stroud
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Point of order that Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3)(f) well taken
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 4 offered by Representative Phelps
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Jan 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report passage recommended by Committee on State Affairs, Ayes 7, Noes 3
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-20-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Zimmerman, Born, Allen, Armstrong, Brooks, Dallman, Dittrich, Duchow, Green, Gundrum, B. Jacobson, Knodl, Krug, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Murphy, Nedweski, Neylon, Novak, O'Connor, Penterman, Petersen, Snyder, Sortwell, Summerfield, Tranel, Wittke and Hurd; cosponsored by Senators Quinn, Feyen, Jagler, James, Marklein and Wimberger
lower
29 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors