No Secrets for Data Centers Act of 2026
Limits certain secrecy clauses tied to data center construction and bars public incentives conditioned on agreeing to them.
In three House committees since Sept. 24, 2026, 11 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Contracts can limit what people may say about a project. The bill would make certain secrecy clauses about data center construction unenforceable when a public official or public resources are involved, and would bar public incentives conditioned on agreeing to such limits. It would apply to claims filed on or after enactment.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Void certain data center secrecy clauses
For construction of a data center, the bill would make a nondisclosure clause agreed to before a lawsuit unenforceable in court or arbitration if a public official is a party, or if the agreement relates to public funds, public land, or a public incentive. A data center is a facility, or group of facilities, with a maximum rated power capacity or projected peak power load greater than 50 megawatts.
- Bar incentives tied to secrecy
A data center operator could not receive a public incentive conditioned on agreeing to prohibit, restrict, or penalize disclosure of information about building a data center. Public incentives include tax benefits, payments in lieu of taxes, bonds, loans, grants, and rebates.
- Apply the rules to new claims
The bill would apply only to claims filed under federal, state, or tribal law on or after enactment. It would preserve state or local laws that protect the right to speak at least as much as this bill does.
- Preserve certain utility filings
The bill would not prevent information about data center construction from being filed confidentially with a public utility commission or similar state utility regulator, if the filing is not for the purpose of receiving a public incentive.
The bill addresses secrecy clauses connected to data center construction when public officials or public resources are involved. The practical stakes are whether parties can restrict discussion of project-related conduct or information through those agreements, and whether public incentives can be tied to limits on disclosure.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Landsman with 2 original cosponsorsReferred to Energy and Commerce, Judiciary and Ways and Means
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 24, 2026ENERGY & COMMERCE · JUDICIARY +1 NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 11 daysNo hearing yet
- 11 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 11, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 2 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Rep. Landsman’s record: sponsored 33 bills this Congress. 2 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Tom BarrettR-MI-7ORIGINAL
- Jamie RaskinD-MD-8ORIGINAL
Coverage at a glance
Outlets that covered this bill, by their lean.
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Discussion
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