Virginia governor creates AI task force, restricts data centers

virginia governor abigail spanberger signed executive order 22, which bans executive branch officials from signing non-disclosure agreements for data center projects and requires expedited noise regulations. the order also establishes an ai task force to evaluate risks to virginians and determine how existing law can be applied to ai harms. additionally, a new 'data center accountability framework' was unveiled, prioritizing eliminating 'by-right approval', removing state subsidies, and establishing environmental guardrails. this move reflects a growing trend of states taking data center and ai policy into their own hands.