SB60
To Prohibit A Digital Asset Mining Business From Being Located Within A Thirty-mile Radius Of A Military Facility; And To Declare An Emergency.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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AI-Generated Summary
Senate Bill 60 amends the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 to restrict the location of digital asset mining businesses. The bill prohibits any digital asset mining business from operating or constructing facilities within a thirty-mile radius of designated military facilities in Arkansas, including various air bases, training centers, and the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Facilities that obtained a permit from the Oil and Gas Commission on or before December 31, 2024, are exempted from this restriction. The Attorney General is authorized to investigate suspected violations and order the closure of non-compliant facilities. Furthermore, the Oil and Gas Commission is mandated to deny or revoke permits for operations located within the restricted zones. An emergency clause is included, citing concerns regarding national security and the protection of military facilities as the justification for immediate implementation.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this legislation include national security interests and military personnel stationed at the specified Arkansas facilities. By creating a physical buffer zone, the bill aims to mitigate potential security risks, surveillance concerns, or infrastructure interference that could arise from proximity to industrial digital asset mining operations.
Who Might Suffer?
Digital asset mining businesses that do not hold a permit issued on or before December 31, 2024, and that are currently operating, under construction, or planning to locate within the thirty-mile buffer zones are most negatively impacted. These entities face the loss of capital investments, the revocation of existing permits, and the forced closure of their facilities, which could lead to significant financial losses and the termination of planned projects within the state.
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