The Anne Arundel County Council in Maryland voted 7-0 on Oct. 5, 2026, to pass Bill 63-26 as amended, putting a temporary moratorium on actions related to the development of data storage centers and repealing the county's personal property tax assessment reduction for qualified data storage centers. The roll call is recorded in the draft minutes of the Oct. 5 legislative session, included in the council's Oct. 19 meeting packet: Councilmembers Rodvien, Leadbetter, Smith, Pickard, Volke, Fiedler and Hummer voted aye, and none voted nay.

Councilmember Nathan Volke (R, District 3) sponsored the bill. As introduced, it would have banned new privately operated data centers in the county. On Sept. 21 the council amended it into a temporary pause paired with a work group charged with recommending permanent rules.

What the Ordinance Does

The bill's title, as read into the minutes, lists several provisions. It:

  • modifies the county's definition of "data storage center";
  • grandfathers certain data storage centers;
  • removes certain data storage centers as an allowable use in certain commercial, industrial, mixed use and Odenton Town Center districts;
  • repeals the personal property tax assessment reduction for qualified data storage centers;
  • enacts a temporary moratorium on actions related to the development of data storage centers in the county; and
  • requires a work group to prepare a report and recommendations to the County Executive and the County Council on regulating data storage centers.

According to WMAR-2 News, the moratorium runs until Jan. 31, 2028, or until the county adopts comprehensive data center legislation, whichever comes first. The station reported that projects already in the development process will generally be allowed to continue, and that the amended measure addresses future phases of existing data centers on adjacent or adjoining properties. The work group's review is to cover energy and water use, utility infrastructure, noise, air quality, environmental impacts and economic development, WMAR reported.

The Baltimore Banner reported that the moratorium exempts the expansion of existing facilities such as the Sandy Farms Data Center in Severn. The Capital Gazette, in a report republished by GovTech, described the measure as a 15-month pause on data center development. The study group would include a chair and seven members appointed by the County Council plus four members appointed by the county executive, the paper reported.

From Ban to Moratorium

The council held a public hearing on the bill Sept. 21, 2026. According to the final minutes of that session, Amendment No. 1 repealed the personal property tax assessment reduction, enacted a temporary moratorium and required the council to form a work group. The council adopted the amendment 7-0 on a motion by Volke, seconded by Councilmember Fiedler, and the chair set the amended bill to be heard Oct. 5.

Councilmember Julie Hummer (D, District 4) introduced the amendment at the request of County Executive Steuart Pittman, the Capital Gazette reported. "We have landed on what I will call an omnibus amendment that turns this into a moratorium," Volke said at the hearing, according to the paper.

Speakers at the Sept. 21 hearing included Kaitlin Monaghan on behalf of Microsoft, Tom Ballentine on behalf of CREDA, a representative of YVS Law, a representative of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and several residents, the minutes show. Monaghan, Microsoft's director of government affairs, said the bill as drafted "would ban all data centers in the county, which would be devastating to the remaining phases of this project," and "would shut the county out for one of the strongest economic drivers of today," the Capital Gazette reported. Microsoft is building a data center campus at Annapolis Junction Business Park, according to WMAR. The Banner reported that supporters of Fort George G. Meade opposed the original ban, arguing it would stifle the area's large defense contractors and the local cybersecurity sector.

The Oct. 5 Vote

At the Oct. 5 session, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Janssen Evelyn spoke on the bill for the administration, accompanied by staff including Amy Gowan, president and CEO of the county's Economic Development Corp., the draft minutes show. Councilmembers Pickard, Leadbetter, Fiedler, Rodvien, Hummer and Smith asked to be added as cosponsors. During the public hearing, representatives of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and YVS Law spoke along with residents, and the council received six written testimony submissions.

Before final passage, Councilmember Pete Smith offered Amendment No. 2, which would have exempted certain contractors to U.S. intelligence agencies from the moratorium. It was defeated 1-6, with Smith the only aye vote.

Regional Context

The vote adds Anne Arundel to a group of Maryland counties that have restricted new data center development. According to the Banner, Harford County became the first Maryland county to enact an outright ban, while Howard, Prince George's and Calvert counties have adopted temporary bans to study the impacts of data centers.

What Happens Next

The council and the county executive are to appoint the work group's members, and the group is to deliver its report and recommendations for permanent regulations to the County Executive and the County Council. Hummer said the moratorium would end early if the study group finishes its report before the 15-month period ends, the Banner reported. The county's records do not yet list an effective date for the ordinance.

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