MN SF4298

Establishes a moratorium prohibiting state and local governments from issuing permits for new data centers until one calendar year after the Public Utility Commission submits a required comprehensive report

Public Utility Commission must submit the report to legislative committees by July 1, 2027, with a possible extension to January 1, 2028

Report must assess data center development scenarios and analyze impacts on energy usage, water usage, metals usage, federal- and state-listed species, and Tribal Nations' treaty rights and cultural practices

Required economic analysis must examine local impacts (employment, property taxes, economic activity) and state-level impacts (income tax revenue from jobs, tax expenditures provided to data centers)

Third-party contractors developing the report must complete conflict of interest evaluations to ensure no ties to data center developers, and the commission must consult with Minnesota Tribal governments