{"id":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","slug":"virginia-executive-order-22-data-center-accountability-2026","kind":"other","headline":"Virginia Governor Spanberger signs Executive Order 22: state agencies barred from NDAs on data center projects","summary":"On 2026-09-18 Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22, which implements part of her Data Center Accountability Framework and creates a state AI Task Force. Per press coverage of the order, it bars executive branch agencies, departments, boards, commissions, authorities and employees from entering into or requiring non-disclosure agreements for data center projects, and directs state agencies to expedite data center noise regulations and review backup generators. The order does not itself end by-right approvals: the governor is proposing that the General Assembly, in its 2027 session, require local approval for any data center using more than 25 megawatts, and extend the NDA ban to local governments. Those proposals are not law.","locationId":"a0d3f9da-875c-4c6e-bdca-3be94155e191","effectiveAt":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","expiresAt":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","formFactors":[],"jurisdiction":null,"complianceDeadline":null,"enforcementEvents":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:06.642Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:11.522Z","location":{"id":"a0d3f9da-875c-4c6e-bdca-3be94155e191","name":"Virginia","slug":"virginia","kind":"state","parentLocationId":"aa8b9c05-c836-4021-801f-59801970401e","region":"Southeast","lat":37.4316,"lng":-78.6569,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","aliases":["VA"],"collisionRisk":"high","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-31T13:01:19.066Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-10T01:01:16.878Z"},"derived":{"status":"in_effect"},"sources":[{"id":"1b1bd795-e3d0-4ba5-95b8-877c80be16c3","regulationId":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","url":"https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/eo/eo-22-establishing-va-data-center-accountability-and-ai-initiatives.pdf","label":"Executive Order 22: Establishing Virginia Data Center Accountability and AI Initiatives","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Executive Order 22: Establishing Virginia Data Center Accountability and AI Initiatives","sourceName":"Office of the Governor of Virginia","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:07.434Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:07.434Z"},{"id":"ac7bc137-97c9-4bc9-9bc4-7f40617ab083","regulationId":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","url":"https://virginiabusiness.com/spanberger-bans-by-right-approvals-ndas-for-data-centers/","label":"Spanberger bans by-right approvals, NDAs for data centers","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Spanberger bans by-right approvals, NDAs for data centers","sourceName":"Virginia Business","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:08.192Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:08.192Z"},{"id":"45a78413-583c-4967-9ef8-0b09673ec9b1","regulationId":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","url":"https://www.whsv.com/2026/09/18/spanberger-signs-executive-order-taking-data-centers-ai/","label":"Spanberger signs executive order taking on data centers, AI","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Spanberger signs executive order taking on data centers, AI","sourceName":"WHSV","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:08.947Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:08.947Z"},{"id":"3ba7d054-0fba-42bf-a275-2f039c631333","regulationId":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","url":"https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/09/18/new-gov-spanberger-orders-framework-for-regulating-data-centers-establishes-ai-task-force/","label":"Gov. Spanberger orders 'framework' for regulating data centers, establishes AI task force","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Gov. Spanberger orders 'framework' for regulating data centers, establishes AI task force","sourceName":"FFXnow","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:09.716Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T20:50:09.716Z"}],"statusEvents":[],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/virginia-executive-order-22-data-center-accountability-2026","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/virginia-executive-order-22-data-center-accountability-2026","name":"Virginia Governor Spanberger signs Executive Order 22: state agencies barred from NDAs on data center projects","description":"On 2026-09-18 Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22, which implements part of her Data Center Accountability Framework and creates a state AI Task Force. Per press coverage of the order, it bars executive branch agencies, departments, boards, commissions, authorities and employees from entering into or requiring non-disclosure agreements for data center projects, and directs state agencies to expedite data center noise regulations and review backup generators. The order does not itself end by-right approvals: the governor is proposing that the General Assembly, in its 2027 session, require local approval for any data center using more than 25 megawatts, and extend the NDA ban to local governments. Those proposals are not law.","identifier":"3612f2d7-671b-4cf8-b3fa-69aa869e60cf","legislationDate":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000Z","legislationApplies":{"@type":"Place","name":"Virginia"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":4,"primary_source_types":[]}}}