SR12
To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Regulate The Impact On Water Usage And The Electrical Grid By Blockchain Networks And Digital Asset Mining.
Last Action (April 6, 2026): Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.
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AI-Generated Summary
Senate Resolution 12 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 and take action against them if they threaten groundwater supplies through excessive consumption. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Arkansas Public Service Commission to monitor the impact of these operations on the state's electric grid. The Public Service Commission is granted the authority to direct utility providers to halt service to these operations if their activities threaten the reliability of the grid. Both agencies are tasked with promulgating rules to implement these oversight measures, with initial rules scheduled for adoption by early 2027.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are the general public and the state government, as the bill aims to protect shared natural resources and ensure the stability of the electrical grid for residents and other businesses. By regulating the resource-intensive activities of digital asset mining, the state seeks to prevent potential utility outages and water shortages that could impact local communities and infrastructure.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary groups negatively impacted are owners and operators of blockchain networks and digital asset mining facilities within Arkansas. These entities would face increased regulatory scrutiny, potential operational costs related to compliance, and the risk of forced shutdowns or service interruptions if their water usage or power consumption is deemed to threaten state resources or grid stability.
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