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North Dakota Forms Interim Committee to Examine Data Centers and AI Ahead of 2027 Session
On Thursday, June 25 2026, North Dakota lawmakers unveiled an interim committee set to probe data‑center development and artificial intelligence (AI) before the state’s 2027 legislative session. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue said the group would arm legislators with the expertise needed to shape policy around rapidly evolving technology.
The 12‑member panel will be chaired by Representative Jonathan Warrey of Casselton and will include nine elected members from both chambers, a Senate vice‑chair, and two citizen experts. The citizen members—former North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott, who has a background in AI research, and former Public Service Commission member Tony Clark, now executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners—will bring outside perspective to the debate.
Elected members are: Rep. Mike Nathe (Bismarck), Rep. Anna Novak (Hazen), Rep. Todd Porter (Mandan), Rep. Mary Schneider (Fargo), Sen. Kyle Davison (Fargo), Sen. Jose Castaneda (Minot), Sen. Janne Myrdal (Edinburg), Sen. Dean Rummel (Dickinson), and Sen. Mike Wobbema (Valley City).
The committee’s mandate covers several key areas. It will scrutinize how data centers are built, focusing on water and electricity consumption, and will examine how other states regulate or incentivize siting. While some states pursue moratoriums, others offer tax breaks to attract facilities. Hogue emphasized that the committee would remain “agnostic,” evaluating what models best fit North Dakota.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the panel will explore state‑level AI regulation and the possibility of federal preemption. It will consider statutory protections for children against AI harm and the prohibition of external AI systems that appear to exceed human control. Representative Warrey underscored that the committee’s work aims to “protect our citizens from nefarious use, especially our children.”
The group plans to convene three to five times before the January 2027 session, with its first meeting slated within 30 days. Sessions may include field trips to existing data‑center sites and will be open to the public. The committee encourages local officials—many of whom have been grappling with data‑center proposals—to submit input.
Oliver County, which has recently seen public concern over data‑center development, exemplifies the local context the committee will address. County commissioner candidate Mike Berg warned that the committee could be “too little, too late,” noting that subdivisions have been making siting decisions for months. He dismissed the panel as “pro‑industry” and likened it to a public‑relations stunt.
Data centers consume significant electricity and water, and their rapid expansion is tied to growing demand for AI workloads. North Dakota has already attracted several large projects, including the Applied Digital campus near Harwood, projected to consume 280 megawatts of power. The committee’s study will therefore weigh the economic benefits of hosting data‑center infrastructure against the environmental and community impacts that accompany it.
While the committee has not yet scheduled its first meeting, it is expected to begin work soon and will report findings to the Legislature before the 2027 session. The outcome could shape North Dakota’s approach to data‑center siting, AI regulation, and the balance between economic development and community protection.
The 12‑member panel will be chaired by Representative Jonathan Warrey of Casselton and will include nine elected members from both chambers, a Senate vice‑chair, and two citizen experts. The citizen members—former North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott, who has a background in AI research, and former Public Service Commission member Tony Clark, now executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners—will bring outside perspective to the debate.
Elected members are: Rep. Mike Nathe (Bismarck), Rep. Anna Novak (Hazen), Rep. Todd Porter (Mandan), Rep. Mary Schneider (Fargo), Sen. Kyle Davison (Fargo), Sen. Jose Castaneda (Minot), Sen. Janne Myrdal (Edinburg), Sen. Dean Rummel (Dickinson), and Sen. Mike Wobbema (Valley City).
The committee’s mandate covers several key areas. It will scrutinize how data centers are built, focusing on water and electricity consumption, and will examine how other states regulate or incentivize siting. While some states pursue moratoriums, others offer tax breaks to attract facilities. Hogue emphasized that the committee would remain “agnostic,” evaluating what models best fit North Dakota.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the panel will explore state‑level AI regulation and the possibility of federal preemption. It will consider statutory protections for children against AI harm and the prohibition of external AI systems that appear to exceed human control. Representative Warrey underscored that the committee’s work aims to “protect our citizens from nefarious use, especially our children.”
The group plans to convene three to five times before the January 2027 session, with its first meeting slated within 30 days. Sessions may include field trips to existing data‑center sites and will be open to the public. The committee encourages local officials—many of whom have been grappling with data‑center proposals—to submit input.
Oliver County, which has recently seen public concern over data‑center development, exemplifies the local context the committee will address. County commissioner candidate Mike Berg warned that the committee could be “too little, too late,” noting that subdivisions have been making siting decisions for months. He dismissed the panel as “pro‑industry” and likened it to a public‑relations stunt.
Data centers consume significant electricity and water, and their rapid expansion is tied to growing demand for AI workloads. North Dakota has already attracted several large projects, including the Applied Digital campus near Harwood, projected to consume 280 megawatts of power. The committee’s study will therefore weigh the economic benefits of hosting data‑center infrastructure against the environmental and community impacts that accompany it.
While the committee has not yet scheduled its first meeting, it is expected to begin work soon and will report findings to the Legislature before the 2027 session. The outcome could shape North Dakota’s approach to data‑center siting, AI regulation, and the balance between economic development and community protection.
