There isn’t one single official count, but the best current answer is 14 states have introduced legislation this year to ban or pause data center development. Another tracker says at least 12 states have introduced measures to temporarily ban or strictly regulate large-scale data centers.

Why the number varies

Different outlets are counting different things, so the total changes depending on whether they include:

  • Only outright bans, or also moratoriums and strict limits.
  • Active bills, failed bills, and pending proposals.
  • State-level actions versus local city or county bans.

What’s happening now

Recent reporting says the pushback is spreading fast, with some states considering statewide bans and others only temporary pauses. At the same time, many of the strongest actions are happening locally, not just at the state level.

Practical read

If you want the simplest headline: about a dozen to 14 states are moving to ban or freeze data centers, but very few have actually enacted a statewide ban. Maine was close, and New York recently enacted a statewide prohibition on large data centers, according to recent reporting.