HB496Introduced in the House of Delegates
Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, etc., purposes, data centers.
Introduced by Elizabeth Guzman, District 31
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Certain data from water users; water use consumption for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes and from data centers. Requires any water user required to register water withdrawal and use data to the State Water Control Board that provides water to another person offsite to include in its report, submitted on its regular reporting schedule, the total volume of potable water and, reported separately, the total volume of reclaimed water, as defined in the bill, provided during each month for each of the following categories: (i) a data center with an air permit issued by the Department of Environmental Quality and (ii) to the extent available without utility billing system modifications, (a) domestic purposes, (b) commercial and industrial purposes, separately or combined as available, and (c) all other non-categorized purposes. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 553.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0623)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026
26
Yes
13
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102411D
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 1-N)
Continued to next session in Counties, Cities and Towns (Voice Vote)
Reconsidered by Counties, Cities and Towns
House committee offered
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (20-Y 1-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107395D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (74-Y 23-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Reported from Local Government with substitute (11-Y 4-N)
Committee substitute printed 26109002D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (25-Y 15-N 0-A)
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 97-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate requested conference committee
House acceded to request
Conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Srinivasan, Marsden, Stuart
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Guzman, Lopez, Morefield
Conference Report released
Conference report agreed to by House (78-Y 19-N 0-A)
Conference report agreed to by Senate (26-Y 13-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB496ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor - Chapter 623 (effective - 1/1/2027)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0623)
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