Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs an EO to slow down data center approvals, create an AI task force to evaluate workforce displacement, and more

Data center permitting processes in Virginia will no longer be "by-right," increasing local oversight and potentially slowing new builds.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed Executive Order 22, initiating new policies to regulate the state's booming data center industry. The order prohibits executive branch officials from signing non-disclosure agreements for data center projects, mandates expedited noise regulations, and calls for a review of backup-generation operations. It also establishes an AI task force to assess risks such as workforce displacement and data privacy, and to determine how existing laws can address AI-related harms. This executive action is part of a broader

This move signals a growing trend of state-level governance over data center and AI policy, as federal action remains slow. Virginia's "Data Center Accountability Framework" aims to curb "by-right" approvals, eliminate some state subsidies, establish environmental standards, and protect residents from energy price hikes linked to data centers. The governor's office seeks to empower local communities and address environmental and infrastructure concerns stemming from rapid development.

The establishment of an AI task force highlights growing state-level concerns about the societal impacts of artificial intelligence, particularly workforce displacement and data privacy. By forming this body, Virginia intends to proactively identify and mitigate AI-related risks, aligning with broader efforts by other states like California, New York, and Texas to develop their own AI and data center regulations in the absence of comprehensive federal guidelines.