California lawmakers cleared Assembly Bill 2469, which would bar local governments from approving new or expanded data centers unless developers disclose water plans and pay full costs for new water infrastructure. The measure will join Assembly Bill 2619 on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk after Newsom vetoed a similar data center water bill last year.
WHO:Gov. Gavin Newsom; Assemblymember Diane Papan; California lawmakers
WHAT:Assembly Bill 2469 cleared and would require data center developers to disclose water plans and cover full costs for new water pipes, treatment, or storage; it will join AB 2619 on Newsom’s desk.
WHEN:Reported Sep 8, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET
WHERE:California
WHY:Lawmakers are responding to concerns that data centers use large amounts of water for cooling AI servers while the public lacks clear disclosure of how much water is used.
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