# Three Yeas, Three Short, No Start Date

> On the Alaska Senate floor in Juneau on May 16th, data center bill SB 250 passed 14 to 5.

Published 2026-10-01 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-10-01/

## The story

Alaska's three votes were yes. The Senate fell three short.

Cloture needed 60. It got 57.

Three-fifths of the Senate had to agree just to take it up. The motion was then withdrawn. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan both voted yea. The House had passed it two weeks before.

Two weeks earlier, the House passed it 417 to 3.

Nick Begich voted yea. Republicans went 210 to 0, Democrats 206 to 3 and the one independent voted yea. Suspending the rules took two-thirds.

A standard for computing sites of 100 MW and up.

Rates would be designed to recover that cost from the customer, even if it ends its contract. Each state regulator would have to consider the standard and decide.

Both clocks start on a day that hasn't happened.

It also counts backward.

A state skips both clocks if, before enactment, it had put a comparable standard in place, held a proceeding on one, or its legislature had voted on one. Has Alaska done any of the three?

Alaska's Senate passed SB 250, 14 to 5. A House panel held it.

It passed May 16th and was heard and held in House Community and Regional Affairs two days later. Does one chamber's vote count as "the State legislature has voted"?

Every date on the record, and the one not set.

Three yeas. Three short. No start date.

Save this. If the date is ever set, both clocks run from it.

## What we verified

- The U.S. Senate voted on cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 9340 on September 30th. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- The Senate recorded the H.R. 9340 cloture vote as record vote number 254. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 9340 was rejected 57 to 43. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- The cloture vote on H.R. 9340 required a three-fifths majority. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Three-fifths of the 100-seat Senate is 60 votes. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- With 57 yeas the cloture motion on H.R. 9340 fell three votes short of 60. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- The Senate roll call record lists vote 254 at 12:51 p.m. on September 30th. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- All 53 Senate Republicans voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340, and no Republican voted nay. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Four Senate Democrats voted yea on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- 41 Senate Democrats voted nay on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- Both independent senators, Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, voted nay on cloture on H.R. 9340. [U.S. Senate, Legislative Information System](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00254.xml), primary document, 2026-09-30.
- After cloture failed, the motion to proceed to H.R. 9340 was withdrawn in the Senate on September 30th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- The House passed H.R. 9340 on September 16th. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- The House vote on H.R. 9340 was taken at 6:53 p.m. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- The House vote on H.R. 9340 was roll call 312. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- The House took up H.R. 9340 on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Passage of H.R. 9340 under suspension required a two-thirds vote. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 received 417 yea votes in the House. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 drew 3 nay votes in the House. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Twelve House members did not vote on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Rep. Lee (D-PA) voted nay on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Rep. Ramirez (D-IL) voted nay on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Rep. Tlaib (D-MI) voted nay on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) voted yea on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- House Republicans voted 210 to 0 for H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- House Democrats voted 206 to 3 for H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- The one independent House member voted yea on H.R. 9340. [Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll312.xml), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 is sponsored by Rep. Gabe Evans, a Colorado Republican from the 8th District. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- H.R. 9340 was introduced in the House on June 18th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee ordered H.R. 9340 reported 52 to 0 on July 21st. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- Energy and Commerce reported H.R. 9340 to the House on September 10th as House Report 119-814. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- H.R. 9340 was received in the Senate on September 17th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- H.R. 9340 was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 684 on September 24th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- A cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R. 9340 was presented in the Senate on September 28th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr/BILLSTATUS-119hr9340.xml), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- H.R. 9340 defines a large-load customer by facilities that require electric energy primarily to operate information technology infrastructure for data storage and computational applications. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Under H.R. 9340 the large-load threshold is an aggregate peak demand of 100 megawatts or more at a single site or campus. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 applies the large-load definition only to non-residential consumers who request or enter a contract on or after enactment. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 says rates to a large-load customer shall be designed to recover the full, incremental cost of any generation, transmission or distribution upgrade needed to serve it. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- The H.R. 9340 cost recovery standard covers the case of a large-load customer terminating its contract or ceasing to buy power. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- Under the H.R. 9340 standard a utility must require financial assurances or contributions from a large-load customer before making an upgrade to serve it. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 gives each State regulatory authority 1 year after enactment to commence consideration of the standard or set a hearing date. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 gives each State regulatory authority 2 years after enactment to complete consideration and make a determination on the standard. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 exempts a state from the consideration clocks if, before enactment, the state has implemented the standard or a comparable standard. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 also exempts a state whose regulatory authority has conducted a proceeding to consider implementing the standard before enactment. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- H.R. 9340 also exempts a state where the state legislature has voted on implementing the standard or a comparable one before enactment. [U.S. Government Publishing Office, govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr9340eh/html/BILLS-119hr9340eh.htm), primary document, 2026-09-16.
- In floor remarks on September 29th, Schumer said that all Republicans offer on AI and data centers is a toothless messaging bill. [Office of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer](https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/leader-schumer-floor-remarks-slamming-republicans-toothless-response-to-the-ai-threat-a-guardrail-thats-optional-isnt-a-guardrail-at-all), primary document, 2026-09-29.
- A Senate bill also titled the Ratepayer Protection Act, S. 5028, was introduced by Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio on July 16th. [Library of Congress bill status, via GPO govinfo bulk data](https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/s/BILLSTATUS-119s5028.xml), primary document, 2026-07-16.
- The Alaska Senate passed CSSB 250(CRA) on May 16th. [Alaska State Legislature, BASIS](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20250), primary document, 2026-05-16.
- The final Alaska Senate vote on SB 250 was 14 to 5 with one member excused. [Alaska State Legislature, BASIS](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20250), primary document, 2026-05-16.
- Before reconsideration the Alaska Senate first passed SB 250 by 13 to 5 with two excused on May 16th. [Alaska State Legislature, BASIS](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20250), primary document, 2026-05-16.
- The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard and held SB 250 on May 18th, its last recorded action. [Alaska State Legislature, BASIS](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=SB%20250), primary document, 2026-05-18.
- Alaska law empowers the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to regulate every public utility doing utility business in the state. [Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Statutes (AS 42.05.141)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=42.05.141&secEnd=42.05.141), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- Alaska law empowers the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to make or require just, fair and reasonable rates for a public utility. [Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Statutes (AS 42.05.141)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=42.05.141&secEnd=42.05.141), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- Alaska law sets the Legislature to convene at the capital each year on the third Tuesday in January at 1 p.m. [Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Statutes (AS 24.05.090)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=24.05.090&secEnd=24.05.090), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- The third Tuesday in January 2027 falls on January 19th, 2027, the statutory convening date of the next Alaska Legislature. [Alaska State Legislature, Alaska Statutes (AS 24.05.090)](https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp?media=print&secStart=24.05.090&secEnd=24.05.090), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- Alaska's general election falls on Tuesday, November 3rd. [Alaska Division of Elections](https://www.elections.alaska.gov/), primary document, 2026-10-01.
- U.S. senators left the Capitol on the night of Wednesday, September 30th, for their campaign break. [States Newsroom (Jennifer Shutt), republished by the Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/10/01/repub/us-senate-leaves-nations-capital-in-advance-of-midterms-with-much-still-undone/), report, 2026-10-01.
- States Newsroom reported that the Senate won't return until November 9th. [States Newsroom (Jennifer Shutt), republished by the Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/10/01/repub/us-senate-leaves-nations-capital-in-advance-of-midterms-with-much-still-undone/), report, 2026-10-01.
- States Newsroom described the coming lame-duck session as five weeks long. [States Newsroom (Jennifer Shutt), republished by the Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/10/01/repub/us-senate-leaves-nations-capital-in-advance-of-midterms-with-much-still-undone/), report, 2026-10-01.
- States Newsroom listed unrestrained development of artificial intelligence among the frustrations behind Democrats' growing midterm optimism. [States Newsroom (Jennifer Shutt), republished by the Alaska Beacon](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/10/01/repub/us-senate-leaves-nations-capital-in-advance-of-midterms-with-much-still-undone/), report, 2026-10-01.
- Al Jazeera reported that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the legislation as "toothless". [Al Jazeera (with Reuters and The Associated Press)](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/30/us-senate-rejects-bill-targeting-ai-data-centre-electricity-costs), report, 2026-09-30.
- Alaska SB 250 was sponsored by Sen. Loki Tobin, a Democrat. [BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1974439), report, 2026-10-01.
- The title of Alaska SB 250 is An Act relating to data centers and relating to utility service for data centers. [BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1974439), report, 2026-10-01.

Slides and the deck PDF are linked from the canonical page.