Voters in eight states will decide on 38 local data center-related ballot measures in 2026, including 20 in Ohio. The measures span 35 jurisdictions and address issues ranging from zoning and project approvals to moratoriums and prohibitions on data-center development.
The emerging debate over data centers also includes discussions over what are sometimes called right-to-compute laws. This broader debate includes topics such as AI regulation, individual rights, data-center development, energy and water use, and the division of authority between state and local governments.
Right-to-compute laws establish legal protections for the ownership and lawful use of computers, artificial intelligence, and other computational resources, including computers, servers, and data storage. Montana became the first state to enact a Right to Compute law in 2025, while lawmakers in Ohio and New Hampshire have considered similar proposals in 2026.
