HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers
HB 259, introduced by Rep. Donna Mears in January 2026, would have set utility rate-setting guidelines and community benefit agreement standards for large energy use facilities such as data centers, and given the Regulatory Commission of Alaska new duties over them. The House Energy Committee heard it twice, on January 29th and February 3rd, 2026, taking testimony from Greensparc, GCI, the Alaska Municipal League and former Rep. Paul Seaton. It never advanced out of that committee, and it carried a second referral to House Community and Regional Affairs it never reached. The bill died with the 34th Legislature at sine die on May 20th, 2026. Alaska still has no statewide cost-allocation rule governing how a large data-center load is billed against other ratepayers, which leaves that question with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and with individual utility boards.
How the public reaches this
The bill died when the Legislature adjourned. No public path remains to this vehicle. A constituent who wants these standards has to ask a legislator to introduce them again in the 35th Legislature, which convenes in January 2027.
Timeline
Sources
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How this decision moved
One dated line per material change, oldest first.
2026-07-18 Tracked from this run. The state level counterpart to the Anchorage ordinance, HB 259 would set rate-setting and community benefit standards for big loads but sits in the House Energy Committee. Its stall is the policy gap at the center of Carousel No. 10, no statewide rule decides whether a data center spreads or shifts costs onto households.
2026-08-06 Correction. This entry showed HB 259 as pending a decision. It is not pending. The bill died in the House Energy Committee when the 34th Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20th, 2026, and this tracker carried the wrong status for the eleven weeks since. Re-verified today against the Legislature's own bill record, which shows the last action on February 3rd, 2026 and no action after it, and against Anchorage Daily News reporting that lawmakers introduced 683 bills in the two-year cycle and passed 111. HB 259 was not among them. Status moves to closed. Two facts this entry had never recorded are now here, that the committee actually heard the bill twice and took outside testimony, and that it carried a second referral to House Community and Regional Affairs that it never reached.
2026-08-15 Checked against the Legislature's own record, which still shows HB 259 in the House Energy Committee with no action after February 3rd. That matches what this entry already says. The bill died there at sine die on May 20th and no vehicle has replaced it.
2026-08-26 Checked against the Legislature's own record, which still carries HB 259 in the House Energy Committee with the referral of January 20th as its last status. That matches what this entry says. The bill died in that committee at sine die on May 20th and nothing has replaced it.
2026-08-30 Checked against the Legislature's own record, which still carries HB 259 in the House Energy Committee with the referral of January 20th, 2026 as its last recorded status. The bill died in that committee when the 34th Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20th, 2026, and nothing has replaced it.
2026-08-31 Checked against the Legislature's own record for HB 259, which still shows the bill in House Energy with no action recorded after February 3rd, 2026. Nothing has moved and nothing can, because the bill died with the 34th Legislature at sine die on May 20th, 2026. Alaska still has no statewide rule on how a large data center load is billed against other ratepayers.
2026-09-11 Checked against the Legislature's own record for HB 259, which still carries the bill in the House Energy Committee with the referral of January 20th, 2026 as its last recorded status. That matches what this entry says. The bill died in that committee when the 34th Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20th, 2026. Alaska still has no statewide rule on how a large data center load is billed against other ratepayers.
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Alaska AI Docket, HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers.
Tracked since July 18, 2026, last verified
September 11, 2026. https://alaskaaihq.com/docket/hb-259-data-center-utility-standards/ · Reuse permitted under
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What is HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
HB 259, introduced by Rep. Donna Mears in January 2026, would have set utility rate-setting guidelines and community benefit agreement standards for large energy use facilities such as data...
Who decides HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
Alaska Legislature (House Energy Committee)
Can I comment on HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
The bill died when the Legislature adjourned. No public path remains to this vehicle. A constituent who wants these standards has to ask a legislator to introduce them again in the 35th Legislature, which convenes in January 2027.
Where is HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
Juneau
Has HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers been decided?
It is closed. Checked against the Legislature's own record for HB 259, which still carries the bill in the House Energy Committee with the referral of January 20th, 2026 as its last...
What happens next with HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
No further date is published. It is closed and the record is checked against its source every day.
What changed on HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
Checked against the Legislature's own record for HB 259, which still carries the bill in the House Energy Committee with the referral of January 20th, 2026 as its last...
What kind of decision is HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
A legislation, decided by Alaska Legislature (House Energy Committee).
When did HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers start?
Tracked since July 18th, 56 days ago. The earliest date on its record is January 20th.
Where can I read the sources for HB 259, state utility standards for large data centers?
Anchorage Daily News, Alaska State Legislature. Every one is listed with its date on the decision page.
Beats
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