Skip to content

Session Expired

Your session has expired. Please sign in again to continue where you left off.

Sign In Again

VT S0205: An act relating to a temporary moratorium on AI data centers and a report on the construction and operation of AI data centers in Vermont

Dead/Failed Vermont · 2025–2026 session

Last verified Oct 10, 2026 · official bill text

S0205 · where it stands

This bill did not become law (dead/failed) · last action Jan 6, 2026.

What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

Vermont's S.205 (2025-2026 biennium) would have barred any person from operating an AI data center, or starting site preparation or construction of one, in Vermont before July 1, 2030. An AI data center is a facility requiring more than 100 megawatts of new load for AI inference, training, simulation or synthetic data generation. The Public Utility Commission would have investigated and reported by January 15, 2027. It was referred to Senate Finance on January 6, 2026 and died when the biennium ended.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: the bill did not pass. It would have barred new AI data centers over 100 megawatts of new load in Vermont until July 1, 2030.

Key provisions

  1. AI data center: facility requiring greater than 100 megawatts of new load for AI inference, training, simulation or synthetic data generation (Sec. 1(b))
  2. No person may operate an AI data center or begin site preparation or construction before July 1, 2030 (Sec. 1(a))
  3. Public Utility Commission, with input from the Department of Public Service and other interested parties, must investigate and report by January 15, 2027 on energy load, cooling water, environmental impacts, grid reliability, a cost-allocation model holding other ratepayers harmless, economic effects, environmental justice and permitting (Sec. 1(c)-(d))
  4. Would have taken effect on passage (Sec. 2). Read first time and referred to Senate Finance January 6, 2026; died in committee

Latest legislative action

Jan 6, 2026. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Finance

Sponsors (showing 5 of 15)

NameRole
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Cosponsor

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI in Government

Affected industries

Technology

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in Vermont

All Vermont bills →
H410 An act relating to the use and oversight of artificial intelligence in State gov H0814 An act relating to neurological rights and the use of artificial intelligence te H0821 An act relating to artificial intelligence H0714 An act relating to automated employment decision making and State employees S0069 An act relating to an age-appropriate design code H0211 An act relating to data brokers and personal information

Same topic in other states

California SB 1159 Artificial intelligence: transparency and governance. Tennessee HB 1455 Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artifi Washington HB 1170 Informing users when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence Montana SB397 Generally revise laws related to privacy and facial recognition technology Utah HB444 Data Privacy Amendments New Jersey AJR164 Establishes "New Jersey Advanced Autonomous Vehicle Task Force."