Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order on September 18, 2026, to increase oversight of the state’s data center industry. The order establishes the Data Center Accountability Framework to regulate this major economic sector.
The framework immediately bans state agencies from entering into non-disclosure agreements for data center projects. It also mandates stricter permitting, terminates certain state subsidies, and accelerates new regulations for noise and backup generator emissions.
The executive order also creates a new AI Task Force to evaluate risks associated with artificial intelligence. This group will address potential workforce displacement, resident data privacy concerns, and cybersecurity risks.
The task force is responsible for developing policy and legislative proposals. These measures aim to manage the societal impacts of the rapidly expanding AI sector.