1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2024 SR 14
4
5 By: Senator B. King
6
7 SENATE RESOLUTION
8 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NONAPPROPRIATION
9 BILL TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023;
10 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE POWERS OF THE
11 ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION; TO MONITOR THE
12 IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET
13 MINING ON WATER USAGE; TO ALLOW FOR THE CLOSURE OF
14 BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET MINING
15 OPERATIONS IF WATER USAGE IS EXCESSIVE; TO AMEND THE
16 LAW CONCERNING THE AUTHORITY OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC
17 SERVICE COMMISSION; TO MONITOR THE IMPACT OF
18 BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON THE
19 ELECTRIC GRID; AND TO ALLOW FOR THE HALT OF
20 BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET MINING
21 OPERATIONS IF THE ELECTRIC GRID IS THREATENED.
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24 Subtitle
25 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A
26 NONAPPROPRIATION BILL TO AMEND THE
27 ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023; AND TO
28 REGULATE THE IMPACT ON WATER USAGE AND
29 THE ELECTRIC GRID BY BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS
30 AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING.
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33 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
34 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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36 THAT Senator King is authorized to introduce a bill which as introduced
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 SR14
1 will read substantially as follows:
2
3 “Title
4 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023; TO AMEND THE LAW
5 CONCERNING THE POWERS OF THE ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION; TO
6 MONITOR THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON WATER
7 USAGE; TO ALLOW FOR THE CLOSURE OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET
8 MINING OPERATIONS IF WATER USAGE IS EXCESSIVE; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING
9 THE AUTHORITY OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO MONITOR THE
10 IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON THE ELECTRIC GRID;
11 TO ALLOW FOR THE HALT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET MINING
12 OPERATIONS IF THE ELECTRIC GRID IS THREATENED; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023; AND TO REGULATE THE IMPACT ON
16 WATER USAGE AND THE ELECTRIC GRID BY BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET
17 MINING.
18
19 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 14, Chapter 1, Subchapter 6, is amended
20 to add additional sections to read as follows:
21 14-1-606. Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to monitor impact of
22 blockchain networks and digital asset mining on water usage — Rules.
23 The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission:
24 (1) Shall monitor the impact of blockchain networks and digital
25 asset mining on water usage in this state;
26 (2) May take action under § 15-22-204 against a blockchain
27 network or a digital asset mining business if the impact of the blockchain
28 network or digital asset mining business threatens the critical groundwater
29 supplies of this state through an excessive use of water; and
30 (3)(A) Shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
31 (B) A proposed rule by the commission promulgated under
32 this section shall be approved by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget
33 Committee under § 10-3-309.
34
35 14-1-607. Arkansas Public Service Commission to monitor impact of
36 blockchain networks and digital asset mining on electric grid — Rules.
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 SR14
1 The Arkansas Public Service Commission:
2 (1) Shall monitor the impact of blockchain networks and digital
3 asset mining on the electric grid;
4 (2) May direct a utility to halt service to a blockchain network
5 or digital asset mining business if the impact of the blockchain network or
6 digital asset mining business threatens the reliability of the electric grid;
7 and
8 (3)(A) Shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
9 (B) A proposed rule by the commission promulgated under
10 this section shall be approved by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget
11 Committee under § 10-3-309.
12
13 SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. Rules.
14 (a) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Arkansas Public
15 Service Commission shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this act.
16 (b)(1) When adopting the initial rules to implement this act, the
17 final rule shall be filed with the Secretary of State for adoption under §
18 25-15-204(f):
19 (A) On or before January 1, 2025; or
20 (B) If approval under § 10-3-309 has not occurred by
21 January 1, 2025, as soon as practicable after approval under § 10-3-309.
22 (2) The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Arkansas
23 Public Service Commission shall file the proposed rule with the Legislative
24 Council under § 10-3-309(c) sufficiently in advance of January 1, 2025, so
25 that the Legislative Council may consider the rule for approval before
26 January 1, 2025.”
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