Overview
- Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 484 on Thursday at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, creating new rules for large AI server hubs known as hyperscale data centers.
- The law blocks data center operators from shifting grid and infrastructure costs to utility customers, with the Florida Public Service Commission charged with enforcing the rule.
- Operators must apply for consumptive‑use permits to draw state water and explain projected water and electricity impacts in public meetings that residents can attend.
- Local governments keep authority over land‑use approvals, and the state’s watchdog office OPPAGA must study data center construction and operations with findings due July 1, 2027.
- Companies may keep plans to relocate or expand in Florida confidential for up to a year and continue using nondisclosure agreements, reflecting a compromise from stricter transparency DeSantis sought.