As public opposition to data centers grows, lawmakers across the United States, representing diverse political stances, are increasingly vying to restrict their development. According to an analysis of legislative records by The Washington Post, state lawmakers have introduced at least 375 data center-related bills this year, exceeding the total number of such bills in the previous three years. About three-quarters of the bills introduced this year seek to restrict data centers in some way. A Gallup poll shows that about 70% of Americans would oppose building data centers near their homes. Political stances have also shifted. An analysis of thousands of social media posts and communications by The Washington Post found that Republicans' stance on data centers has turned significantly negative over the past six months, following a similar shift by Democrats. The number of bills in the first half of this year calling for a halt to data center development, reductions in existing incentives, or the addition of new costs has more than doubled compared to the entire year of 2025, while the number of bills creating, expanding, or extending financial incentives has slightly decreased.
