Bipartisan Bill Targeted Data Center Secrecy
The legislation aims to eliminate government-signed NDAs and condition project subsidies on public transparency.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Data Centers
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Representative Greg Landsman, alongside co-sponsors Tom Barrett and Jamie Raskin, introduced the No Secrets for Data Centers Act. This proposed legislation seeks to mandate public oversight by voiding existing nondisclosure agreements between government officials and data center firms.
Why it matters
The bill addresses the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, aiming to bring private negotiations for data center projects into the public eye. It forces a trade-off for companies seeking taxpayer-funded subsidies: maintain confidentiality or receive financial support.
The proposed legislation voids all existing nondisclosure agreements regarding data center projects while barring future subsidies for firms that mandate confidentiality. It applies to all government-signed secrecy contracts involving facility development.
The players
Greg Landsman
Representative for Ohio's 1st district who spearheaded this bipartisan transparency legislation.
Tom Barrett
Representative and co-sponsor of the act who serves on committees overseeing federal policy.
Jamie Raskin
Representative and co-sponsor of the bill focused on government accountability and oversight.
The details
The bill functions by creating a legislative barrier to the secrecy surrounding infrastructure negotiations, specifically targeting projects tied to artificial intelligence data centers. It effectively forces a choice for private entities: forfeit government subsidies or remove confidentiality requirements from their development contracts with local or federal officials. The mechanism is designed to retroactively nullify previous agreements, ensuring that public oversight applies to ongoing development deals.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: Representative Greg Landsman introduced the No Secrets for Data Centers Act.
The Tech Race
The No Secrets for Data Centers Act marks a significant departure from standard infrastructure negotiation patterns where private developers often secure confidentiality as a condition of local investment. It follows a growing trend of legislative efforts intended to assert public oversight over the rapid deployment of energy-intensive AI infrastructure.
If enacted, this law will make previously private negotiations between municipalities and data center operators available for public review. It potentially alters the speed of facility permitting by requiring projects to forfeit subsidies if developers insist on strict secrecy.
The takeaway
The legislation signals a legislative pivot toward prioritizing public transparency over the rapid, often obscured, development of AI infrastructure. Observers should track committee hearings following the bill's introduction to see how the proposed subsidy conditions affect ongoing data center development projects.
Further reading
For broader context on the infrastructure supporting modern computing, explore the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLWT5.
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