SR14

This resolution authorizes the introduction of a bill to amend the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023. The proposed legislation empowers the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to monitor water usage by blockchain and digital asset mining operations, allowing the commission to take action if water consumption threatens groundwater supplies. Additionally, it grants the Arkansas Public Service Commission authority to monitor the impact of these same operations on the state's electric grid. The bill provides these commissions with the power to halt operations if the activity threatens grid reliability or excessive resource usage. It also mandates that these agencies establish rules for implementation by January 2025, subject to legislative approval.