AB 1577: Data centers: reporting.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and vests the commission with various responsibilities with respect to developing and implementing the state’s energy policies. Existing law requires the commission to biennially adopt an integrated energy policy report, as specified, and to make the reports accessible to state, local, and federal entities and to the general public.

This bill would require the commission to establish a process for the owner or operator of a data center, as defined, to submit specified information to the commission, including, among other information, the data center’s location and size, the data center’s power usage effectiveness, as defined, and the quantity of fuel consumed by onsite generators or other fuel-based energy systems, as specified. The bill would require the owner or operator of a data center to submit the required information in the manner and timeframe specified by the commission. The bill would require the commission, beginning with the 2029 integrated energy policy report, and in subsequent biennial reports thereafter as determined by the commission, to include an assessment of electrical load trends for data centers, as provided. The bill would require the commission to annually publish the information submitted in an anonymized and aggregated format on its internet website. The bill would require the commission to establish a process for the owner or operator of a data center to identify information that the owner or operator claims is exempted or prohibited from disclosure pursuant to federal or state law, as provided.

The bill would require the owner or operator of a data center, upon applying for a discretionary permit, entitlement, or land use authorization required for the construction or operation of the data center, to submit to the applicable local agency, as defined, specified information, including the expected annual energy consumption, as specified, and the expected sound levels attributable to the operation of the data center, as provided. The bill would authorize the local agency to use this information for various purposes, including, but not limited to, land use planning, infrastructure planning, energy supply assessment, and environmental review.

The bill would exempt a publicly funded research facility, public safety facility, publicly funded national security facility, publicly owned facility, or other utility facility, as provided, from the above-described provisions.

The bill would prohibit the commission or a local agency from disclosing the information described above in a manner that would result in the disclosure of personally identifiable information or energy consumption data for a data center customer, as provided.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 21, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 434, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 21, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 4, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 27, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 58. Noes 11. Page 6695.).
5. August 27, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).
7. August 24, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 21, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 13, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
11. August 13, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).
12. August 3, 2026In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.