HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation requiring large-scale data centers to provide emergency response information to local fire officials advanced out of the Pennsylvania House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee this week, as lawmakers seek to address growing safety concerns tied to the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure.
House Bill 2535, sponsored by state Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, would require data centers to annually provide local fire officials with updated floor plans and infrastructure inventories as a condition of occupancy.
The proposal is intended to ensure first responders have access to critical information before emergencies occur, particularly as modern data centers increasingly incorporate battery storage systems, backup fuel supplies and specialized cooling equipment.
“Without this vital information, our responders would not know what they were walking into, and every minute counts, not only for them, but for the entire surrounding community,” Sappey stated. “This gives responders critical safety information before and during a crisis, and it helps them prepare for potential hazards like battery storage, cooling agents and fuel storage locations.”
The legislation would also classify the submitted information as confidential security information, an effort aimed at balancing emergency preparedness with concerns over protecting sensitive facility details.
Under the bill, facilities that fail to comply could face civil penalties and, in cases of continued noncompliance, possible revocation of occupancy permits.
The measure would also allow municipalities to adopt stricter fire safety and reporting requirements than those established under state law.
“It is our responsibility to give those on the ground all the tools they need to act quickly and safely in these scenarios as they work to protect all of us,” Sappey stated.
The bill now moves to the full Pennsylvania House for consideration.
The legislation comes as states and local governments increasingly grapple with the infrastructure and public safety challenges posed by a surge in data center development, driven by growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services.
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