On Sept. 18, 2026, Virginia Gov. Abigail D. Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 (2026), launching the creation of an AI Task Force and directing select state agencies to urgently commence public, intragovernmental, industry, and federal agency engagement to submit proposals and implementation plans for a number of accountability-based initiatives. More specifically and immediately, the order limits confidentiality protections, provides for the exclusion of larger sites from efficiency programs, and adds new oversight into industrial water consumption. The order may have an immediate impact on regulations in Virginia, with legal and commercial implications for businesses, communities, utilities, technology companies, local governments, and residents.
Virginia Executive Order 22 Sets New Requirements for Data Center Development and AI Governance
