House Bill No. [insert number] aims to establish new permitting and reporting requirements for water usage at data centers in Louisiana. The bill introduces Chapter 18 and Chapter 24 to the Louisiana Revised Statutes, defining "data center" and "water usage effectiveness." It mandates that any data center with a proposed water consumption exceeding 100 million gallons per year must obtain a permit from the Department of Conservation and Energy. The bill outlines the information that data center owners or operators must provide to assist the department in evaluating the water source's capacity to meet the project's needs, as well as the factors the department must consider before issuing a permit, including public health impacts and water conservation technologies.

Additionally, the bill requires data center operators to submit quarterly water usage reports to the department, which will then publish this information online. It stipulates that any significant changes in operations or technologies must be reported to the department at least 60 days prior to implementation. The bill also emphasizes the need for public hearings and notifications to local governing authorities before permits are issued. To enhance transparency, each data center will be assigned a unique identifier that must be referenced in all associated permits. The department is authorized to create rules to implement these provisions, including establishing a fee schedule and procedures for public notices and hearings. Violations of the new regulations will incur penalties as outlined in existing law.