Georgia Senate adjourned without voting on bill to make data centers pay their power costs, citing weak support.

Georgia’s Senate adjourned without voting on Senate Bill 34, which would have required data centers to cover their own power costs, avoiding a likely defeat amid weak Republican support. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, aimed to shield residential and small business customers from rising electricity bills—up $43 monthly since 2023—driven by data center expansion. Though a state rule requires data centers to pay directly, advocates say it lacks legal force and contains loopholes. Georgia Power claims rates won’t rise, but critics warn of regulatory gaps and corporate influence. No timeline exists for a future vote.