Businesses: other; data center water usage requirements; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135’26, HB 6140’26, HB 6141’26, HB 6137’26, HB 6142’26, HB 6139’26
Key claim: HB6138 creates a new Michigan act establishing water usage requirements for data centers, tied to a broader package of data center regulation bills.
Abstract
(HB6138 · 103rd Legislature) Businesses: other; data center water usage requirements; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135’26, HB 6140’26, HB 6141’26, HB 6137’26, HB 6142’26, HB 6139’26 Latest action (2026-06-30): Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/25/2026
Why this matters
HB6138 introduces Michigan’s first statutory framework tying data center operations to specific water usage requirements, addressing a growing concern about the water intensity of hyperscale computing and cooling infrastructure. Combined with the tie-barred bills on electricity rates, zoning, and community benefits, it signals a comprehensive legislative approach to managing data center impacts on utilities, ratepayers, and natural resources. For industry, it would establish new compliance obligations tied to water consumption alongside emerging electricity and land-use rules.