SR11

This bill proposes amendments to the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 to impose an annual fee on digital asset mining businesses for extraordinary electrical energy usage. The fee structure is tiered based on the amount of electricity consumed per month, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 per megawatt based on usage levels. Businesses are required to submit usage estimates, undergo audits, and provide attestations of their energy consumption to the Department of Energy and Environment. The bill establishes criminal penalties, including potential Class D felonies, for knowingly providing false material statements regarding energy usage. The collected funds will be distributed to the State Securities Department, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Energy and Environment to cover operating expenses and oversight activities. The Department of Energy and Environment is tasked with promulgating rules to implement these requirements, which must be approved by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.