Scope
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 (2025-26 biennium), "Addressing emerging large energy use facilities," states the Legislature's finding that data centers are emerging large energy use facilities and defines an emerging large energy use facility as one with a maximum aggregate contract demand of 20 megawatts or more primarily engaged in a NAICS 518210 service. As passed by the House, it would require each investor-owned utility with such a facility to file, by 1 October 2026, a tariff or policy for these facilities for Utilities and Transportation Commission approval, require facility owners to publish sustainability reports, direct load-forecasting collaboration, set conditions for behind-the-meter energy projects, and add new sales and use tax exemption sections for server equipment. The House passed it on 14 February 2026; the Senate Ways & Means Committee took no action, and on 12 March 2026 it was returned to the House Rules Committee. It has not become law.
- Geographic scope
- Washington
- Jurisdiction
- State
- Authority type
- Legislature
- Issuing authority
- Washington State Legislature
Dates
- Adopted
- No adoption day is recorded
- Effective
- Not enacted
- Scheduled expiration
- None scheduled
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- None stated
- Source document
- The source page states no document date
- Last checked
- 2 October 2026 (earlier than tracker date 5 October 2026; not an automatic status change)
Summary
Washington E2SHB 2515 would have treated data centers of 20 megawatts or more as emerging large energy use facilities, requiring investor-owned utilities to file commission-approved tariffs or policies for them, requiring facility sustainability reports, and revising data center server-equipment tax exemptions. The House passed it 51-41 on 14 February 2026, but the Senate Ways & Means Committee did not act, and on 12 March 2026 it was returned to the House Rules Committee. It is a proposal and has not become law.
What this does not establish
- The Legislature's bill page (as of 23 September 2026) shows the current status HRules 3C; no failure day is recorded, so the record keeps the proposed status and stores no end date.
- Only the House-passed engrossed text (E2SHB 2515) was opened; the companion Senate bill SB 6171 (status SWays & Means) is a separate bill and is not described here.
- The 1 October 2026 filing date is in the proposed text and imposes no obligation because the bill was not enacted.
Unresolved questions
- Whether the Legislature takes up the bill or a successor after the Data Center Workgroup's final report.
Relationships
Supersession means a later instrument replaces the earlier legal effect. Repeal links identify the repeal instrument and the measure it ends. A later implementation or related letter is not treated as a replacement unless the record says so.
- No related action is recorded.
Sources
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2515-S2.E.pdf
- Current official status current official status reviewed 2 October 2026