In the space of four months, a statewide moratorium, a county-level pause in one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in the country, a governor’s veto that survived an override attempt, and outright bans in rural Indiana have made one thing clear: the decisive venue for data center policy is no longer the boardroom or the statehouse alone. It is every venue at once.
Citizens United for Transparency takes no position for or against any individual project. We publish this roundup because these are public acts, taken on the record, and residents on both sides of the argument deserve to see the primary documents rather than a summary of a summary.
New York: the first statewide pause
On July 14, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order No. 62, establishing a temporary moratorium on data centers in New York while the state develops higher siting standards and a benefits blueprint for localities. It is the first statewide action of its kind.
Maryland: an 18-month county moratorium
On July 28, 2026, the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium and new limits on data center development, through Expedited Bill 19-26 and ZTA 26-01.
Maine: a veto, and a failed override
Governor Janet Mills vetoed LD 307 on April 24, 2026; her veto message is public. The Legislature failed to override on April 29, with a 72–65 House vote falling short of the two-thirds threshold. Both the veto and the override attempt are legitimate exercises of the process, and both are on the record.
Indiana: county-by-county
Nearly a third of Indiana counties have moved to restrict data centers, WFYI reported on July 6, 2026, citing research from Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute. Marshall and Cass counties have banned new data centers outright.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
The Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 2496, a data center “pause” paired with a framework for what sponsors called responsible development, by a vote of 201–1 on June 25, 2026. A margin like that is not a partisan story.
In Port Washington, Wisconsin, voters approved a referendum on data center agreements on April 7, 2026 with roughly 66 percent support. In fairness to all parties, the result is narrower than some coverage suggested: Wisconsin Watch reported on April 16, 2026 that the referendum does not undo the already-approved $458 million tax-increment district tied to the project, and that the measure faces a court challenge.
Why we publish the primary documents
Every one of the actions above is a link to an executive order, a veto message, an official county announcement, or a recorded vote. Anyone can read them and reach their own conclusion. That is the point. The fastest way to lose a public argument’s legitimacy is to conduct it on secondhand characterizations of documents nobody has opened.
# # #
Sources
- Executive Order No. 62 — Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, July 14, 2026.
- Council Approves 18-Month Data Center Moratorium — Montgomery County, Maryland, July 28, 2026.
- Governor Mills Announces Decision on LD 307 — Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, April 24, 2026; veto message.
- Legislature fails to override Mills’ veto — Maine Morning Star, April 29, 2026.
- Nearly a third of Indiana counties have moved to restrict data centers — WFYI, July 6, 2026.
- Pa. House passes data center ‘pause’ — Pennsylvania Capital-Star, June 25, 2026.
- Port Washington Passes Referendum On Data Center Deals — Urban Milwaukee / WPR, April 8, 2026.
- What the Port Washington referendum does and does not do — Wisconsin Watch, April 16, 2026.
Note on sources and fairness. This is a news summary compiled by Citizens United for Transparency from public reporting, official government records, court filings, and organizations’ own published statements, each linked above. It does not allege that any specific person or organization has engaged in unlawful conduct. Allegations described in lawsuits, letters, or audits are allegations only, and all parties are presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise. Where material is reposted or excerpted from another organization, it is identified as that organization’s statement and reproduction does not constitute endorsement. Corrections are welcome and will be posted.
About Citizens United for Transparency
Citizens United for Transparency is a nonpartisan watchdog dedicated to exposing dark money, foreign influence, and undisclosed funding in policy debates affecting national security and economic growth. It collaborates with other transparency organizations to gather information and promote disclosure.
Media & tips: Contact us — we welcome confidential submissions from the public, researchers, and officials.
← Back to all news updates