Virginia Gov. Establishes AI Task Force, Slows Data Center Approvals.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has issued Executive Order 22 and a companion Data Center Accountability Framework to tighten oversight of the Commonwealth’s booming digital infrastructure sector. The directives empower local municipalities by curtailing automatic development approvals, eliminating previously widespread nondisclosure agreements between developers and state officials, and mandating faster enforcement of noise ordinances. The order also requires comprehensive reviews of data centers' backup power systems and outlines measures to shield residents from potential energy cost increases. Concurrently, the governor established a state AI task force charged with evaluating emerging technological risks, including workforce displacement and data privacy concerns. The body will assess how existing statutes apply to artificial intelligence harms and recommend regulatory adjustments. These moves position Virginia at the forefront of a growing state-level shift toward tech governance, as federal lawmakers and the current administration have been reluctant to enact sweeping digital policy reforms. Similar executive actions have recently been pursued in California, New York, and Texas to address infrastructure strain and AI safety. The new framework specifically targets Loudoun County's longstanding by-right approval process, which previously allowed developers to bypass additional municipal scrutiny on designated parcels. Spanberger's initiative also directs the removal of certain state subsidies and introduces environmental safeguards to mitigate the ecological footprint of hyperscale facilities. While environmental advocates have largely commended the administration's approach, some groups argue the measures fall short. The Piedmont Environmental Council noted that the policy focuses primarily on future projects and fails to address cumulative impacts from facilities already constructed or under construction. As Virginia recalibrates its stance on digital infrastructure, the executive actions signal a broader transition toward localized oversight and proactive AI regulation. State policymakers continue to fill legislative vacuums left at the federal level, establishing precedents that may influence national standards for data center development and artificial intelligence governance.