Under the Cover of Darkness, Assembly Republicans Fail to Properly Regulate Data Centers

MADISON – The Wisconsin State Assembly voted on 2025 Assembly Bill 840 – a partisan bill on data centers that has little support from key stakeholders. Assembly Democrats introduced amendments that would protect Wisconsinites’ energy bills, safeguard against environmental harms, and support good jobs, but Republican lawmakers rejected them. The Assembly Floor session was also not live-streamed or recorded and made available to the public due to a lack of funding for WisconsinEye. Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) released the following statement:

“We are in an affordability crisis. Wisconsinites deserve policies from their legislature that lower their energy bills and protect their communities from the potential harms of data centers. The Assembly voted on a Republican-led bill that does neither of those things. And we did it under the cover of darkness.

“Data centers need to pay their fair share of energy costs, and Wisconsin needs a clear framework for regulating data center projects that prevents higher energy costs, protects our environment, and supports good jobs. We have a bill that does that – the Data Center Accountability & Transparency bill (2025 Assembly Bill 722). But Republican lawmakers decided to rush through their own bill instead–a bill that fails to adequately regulate data centers.

“On one of the most important issues that we as a legislature will address this session, all of my constituents that contacted me on this either supported the Democratic bill (2025 Assembly Bill 722), or opposed the Republican bill (2025 Assembly Bill 840). I have not received a single message of support from my constituency on the version of the bill that Republican lawmakers rushed through the legislature this week.

“My constituents have been clear–they support the bill I co-sponsored, the Data Center Accountability & Transparency bill, and oppose the poorly constructed Republican bill rushed through the Assembly this week (2025 Assembly Bill 840). The people I represent, and frankly–the people of Wisconsin– deserve better than what the Assembly delivered this week.

“Let’s find common ground for the common good to protect Wisconsinites from the potential harms of data centers so that we can move forward, together.”

Rep. Vining represents the 13th Assembly District, which includes Elm Grove, and parts of Wauwatosa and Brookfield. For more information visit Rep. Vining’s website here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.