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Senate declines multiple resolutions addressing crypto mines and data‑center rules
Summary
A package of resolutions (SR7–SR12) that would have returned local control, required fees for high‑use digital asset mining, restricted certain foreign‑made hardware, and amended data‑center law failed on multiple recorded votes after questions about fee mechanics, technical specifics, and the scope of regulation.
A set of Senate resolutions introduced by Senator King sought directions to address the environmental and fiscal impacts of digital asset mining and data centers — including restoring local control, levying fees to cover extraordinary electrical usage, imposing notification requirements before site acquisition or construction, and limiting use of covered foreign‑manufactured mining hardware.
Senator King described the local impacts he said data centers can impose, citing a proposed facility “that was gonna use enough power for 8,000 homes, employ 2 or 3 people.” He argued those projects can strain water supplies and the electrical grid and said the earlier state law had tied the hands of local communities.
Members pressed for technical detail. Senator Tucker asked how fees would be calculated and what starting points were used; Senator Sullivan and Senator Hickey pushed back that the resolutions were directional without concrete fee formulas or statutory language. Senator King acknowledged the measures were intended to start conversations: “It’s about direction, not details in these resolutions.”
In sequential roll‑call votes the Senate recorded failure for SR7 (17–8 with several present/not‑voting), SR8 (11–12, 11 not voting), SR9 (15–8, 11 not voting), SR10 (21–4, 9 not voting), SR11 (12–9, 13 not voting), and SR12 (16–7, 11 not voting). None of the measures advanced to final bill text on the floor during this fiscal session.
The sequence of floor actions indicates strong interest in tighter oversight of data‑center impacts, but senators signaled a need for specific, committee‑level drafting and empirical data on energy, water, and rate impacts before supporting statutory changes.
