LAKELAND, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, a new law aimed at regulating hyperscale data centers and keeping utility costs off the backs of Floridians, while officials flagged water and power demands tied to big AI infrastructure and discussed local projects like the proposed Fort Meade center.
The new law makes clear who pays for the heavy lifting when massive data centers arrive: the companies, not the consumers. “It protects consumers from footing the bill for any hyperscale data center in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said, and the language of the bill backs that up by tightening how costs and service responsibilities are assigned. That protection is designed to stop utility cost-shifting that can quietly raise rates for ordinary households.
SB 484 also directs public utilities to set minimum tariffs and service terms for data-center customers, forcing transparency around who gets what from the grid. The bill requires data centers to apply for consumptive use permits before tapping state water supplies, so communities will know how much water is being requested and can weigh the local impacts. Those moves force a conversation about resource use into public meetings rather than leaving decisions to back-channel deals.
Local governments keep their authority under the law to approve and regulate large-scale developments, which preserves zoning and permitting power for counties and cities. DeSantis urged officials to consider charging large firms appropriately for infrastructure strain and noted, “You should be charging them a lot more.” That line reflects the broader Republican approach here: promote growth, but demand the private sector cover the public cost.
Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly framed the measure as a balance between attracting industry and protecting residents, saying it supports economic growth while demanding public accountability. The bill also orders an Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability review of large-scale data center construction and operation, a move meant to keep policymakers informed as AI-driven demand expands. Officials want data and audits that match the size of the investment being pitched to communities.
Locally, the Fort Meade proposal — a $2.6 billion hyperscale project — has become a focal point for those debates, drawing both business interest and community concern. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has campaigned on stricter rules and reminded voters, “We know that data centers draw an exponential need for energy.” He promised Floridians, “We, as a state, will make sure that those costs never get passed on to you from a data center,” and pushed for site-specific reviews, water caps, noise limits and habitat protections.
Collins also wants stronger safeguards around how AI systems operate inside these complexes, calling for verification audits and human oversight to catch dangerous content. “Refuse, redirect or flag [AI] content promoting suicide, self-harm or homicide, with real-time human escalation to LEO, health authorities, behavioral health,” he said, outlining a plan where technology does not replace human judgment on life-and-death issues. That emphasis on human escalation and safety filters reflects growing public unease about autonomous content moderation.
DeSantis used the event to highlight other state priorities as well, including Florida’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on immigration enforcement and the role of the state-run detention operation nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” He argued the facility helps federal processing and said, “The facility keeps Florida safer,” while noting the state will continue coordinating with DHS. With SB 484 signed into law and expected to take effect on July 1, Florida is setting guardrails for where and how hyperscale computing can plug into the state’s power and water systems.
