Data Centers - Standards for Operation and Siting
Sponsor: April Miller (District 4)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: EnvironmentStatus: Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring an owner or operator of a data center to comply with certain standards under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of the Environment to establish by regulation certain sound and vibration controls and requirements for backup power generation for data centers; prohibiting a local approving authority from authorizing the construction of a data center on certain agricultural land; and requiring a certain applicant to submit a certain report to a local approving authority under certain cirucmstances.
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Testimony (29)
MGA witness listFAV 22FavorableUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Bartolomeo, Kathleen | GCAN, MCRT | Position only |
| FAV | Gaver, Lisa | Gaver Farm, LLC | Position only |
| FAV | Zelaya, Michellelobbyist | Maryland Catholic Conference | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hough, Tylerlobbyist | Maryland Farm Bureau | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hamidi, Renee | Valleys Planning Council | Position only |
| FAV | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Davis, Donna | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Delegate Miller, Delegate Millerlegislator | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Grochowski, Kathy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Kable, John | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Kable, Robin | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Law, Elizabeth | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | MIller, Kenneth | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | McKay, Steven | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Molony, Scott | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Seibel, Derek | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Soderstrom, Derek | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Tibbals, Trudy | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | WILSON, ELYSE | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Werner, James | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | bugos, robin | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | teeter, jennifer | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Moritz, Heather | MD Conference of Environmental Directors & MACHO | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Allen, Hannahlobbyist | Maryland Chamber of Commerce | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Coker, Harry | Maryland Department of Commerce | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Zirkle, Andrewlobbyist | Maryland Tech Council | Oral |
| UNF | Arndt, Dave | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | Vetter, Drew | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Baker, Jeremy D | Maryland Department of the Environment | Written (PDF) |