State constitution ban on data centers development

Residents for Responsible Development have gathered more than 25,000 Ohio signatures in 5 weeks. They have until July 1st to meet the required 413,488 valid signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The language of the 2026 constitutional ballot proposition to ban data center developments applies to data centers with over 25MW peak demand per month. State House News Bureau

Grant program for roof repairs

We’ve talked about Gulf Coast states creating grant programs for roof repairs to reduce disaster damage risks. The Colorado Legislature added a fee to home insurance carriers to fund a grant program for roofing repairs. SB 26-155 which allows a board at the State Insurance regulator to set a fee on carriers, and dedicates 90% of the fee revenue to the grant repair program. 

Axios | What passed — and what didn’t — as the Colorado Legislature adjourns

Nuisance Laws + Right to Race legislation

What is Right to Race legislstion? Bills that protect small race tracks. Wisconsin and Georgia legislatures along with 9 others states are consider bills. Kansas, North Carolina, and Iowa have passed Right to Race bills protecting the right to race at racetracks that pre-date nearby housing developments.

The association involved in Right to Race legislation: Speciality Euipment Market Association.

Rural property rights v. Drones

Ranchers are concerned about drones transmitting chemicals that would harm animals. To that end, Indiana General Assembly passed a law preventing drones from interfering with animal husbandry. 

Indiana previously passed a law to prohibit “remote aerial harassment” which applies to the harassment of people, livestock, crops, and farm operations.

Data center development ban veto

Maine’s Governor vetoed a bill that would have temporarily banned the development of new data centers. Why? Two reasons.

First, the bill did not include an exemption for a data center project in the town of Jay, which the Governor supported.

Second, “I believe it necessary and important to examine and plan for the potential impacts of large-scale data centers in Maine, as the use of artificial intelligence becomes more widespread. ”