Republicans opposed the bill and Democrats supported.
The legislation was then Tabled, as is normal practice.
Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe) said on introducing the bill-- “Throughout Pennsylvania, mega-real estate developers are turning agriculture and open spaces into road-clogging warehouses and other uses that hurt taxpayers through costly infrastructure nightmares.
“Even worse, residents now must question their own quality of life as they experience more traffic, higher levels of pollution, and land deterioration.
“This is happening because local leaders in host municipalities do not have the tools and resources they need to determine what impact these projects will have on their community.
“It is time to give local leaders the chance to protect the quality of life, health, and infrastructure of the people they were elected to represent,” said Rep. Madden.
The legislation would amend the Municipalities Planning Code to require--
-- Detailed Impact Analysis/Mitigation Plan: Allow a host municipality to require mega-development developers to provide a detailed analysis of the impacts of development, including the real cost on traffic, future infrastructure costs, emergency management services, sewer, storm water, damage to agricultural lands, parks and open space, impact on neighborhoods, natural resources and wildlife and harm to neighboring properties;
-- Set Conditions Mitigating Impacts: Allow the host municipality to use this analysis to consider conditions which address the impacts and costs of the development; and
-- County, Neighboring Municipalities Express Concerns: Give the county and neighboring municipalities the opportunity to have their concerns addressed by the host municipality.
The requirements would apply to an airport; data center; intermodal terminal; petroleum storage facility; waste-handling facility; quarry; truck stop facility; warehouse; land development of at least 100 acres in a watershed unstudied under the Stormwater Management Act; land development in an area certified as not having sewage capacity for anticipated sewage flows; land development in a municipality of 10,000 or less generating 3,000 vehicle trips per day or an additional 100 or more vehicle trips per day.
The legislation would not apply to any person regulated by state laws related to coal mining or coal refuse operations, the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act, Noncoal Surface Mining Act or the Oil and Gas Act.
The bill requires a hearing on regional-scale developments where, among other entities, the county and contiguous municipalities and municipalities potentially impacted by the land development are invited to attend.
It authorizes the host municipality or county to provide financial incentives to a developer to mitigate the costs of the impact analysis and mitigation plan.
The host municipality shall develop a revenue sharing plan for contiguous municipalities adversely affected by an approved regional development for additional expenses for police and fire protection, medical services, road maintenance and infrastructure.
Click Here for a copy of the legislation and other background.
Click Here for a video of the Dec. 17 House Local Government Committee meeting.
Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Lehigh) serves as Majority Chair of the House Local Government Committee and can be contacted at 717-783-2152 or send email to: rfreeman@pahouse.net. Rep. Brett R. Miller (R-Lancaster), serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-705-7161 or Click Here to contact online.
(Spotlight PA: Map of proposed A.I. data centers in Pennsylvania.)
Resource Link:
-- Spotlight PA: Map Shows Growing Number Of A.I. Data Centers Planned Across Pennsylvania
NewsClips:
-- Altoona Mirror: PA House Moves Legislation Giving Local Governments Power Over Projects Of Regional Significance [House Bill 1764]
-- Warren Times: Don’t Count On Lower Electricity Prices In 2026 [Data Centers Driving Increases]
-- PennLive Guest Essay: The Public’s A.I. Power Problem Is Not Electricity, It’s The Failure To Protect Ratepayers From Costs They Did Not Choose- Matt Hasan, Ph.D, CEO of aiRESULTS
-- PennLive Letter: President’s War On Wind Energy Will Make Your Electric Bill Higher - By David Kyle, New Columbia
-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Proposed In Ransom Twp., Lackawanna County [86th Data Center Building In The County] [PDF of Article]
-- Wall Street Journal: Be Prepared To Keep Paying More For Electricity - A.I. Data Center Demands, Rising Natural Gas Prices, Grid Infrastructure Costs [PDF of Article]
[Posted: December 31, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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