Oklahoma SB 1488
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1488, a 2026 legislative proposal pausing new large data centre approvals in the state through November 2029.
Last refreshed: 26 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why is Oklahoma, one of the most data-centre-friendly US states, now considering a moratorium?
Timeline for Oklahoma SB 1488
Filed in 2026 session as data-centre moratorium proposal
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Maine passes first US statewide DC freeze- What does Oklahoma SB 1488 do to data centres?
- Oklahoma SB 1488 would impose a moratorium on large data centre development in the state, running until November 2029. It is one of 12 state-level moratorium efforts tracked by Good Jobs First as of April 2026.Source: Lowdown data-centres briefing
Background
Oklahoma SB 1488 is a state moratorium bill restricting large data centre development in Oklahoma, with an expiry date of November 2029. It is part of a wave of state-level data centre moratorium efforts across the United States documented by Good Jobs First: the organisation counted 12 states with active moratorium legislation or efforts as of April 2026, with Maine's bill being the first to pass a full legislature.
The Oklahoma bill reflects concerns shared with other state-level efforts: data centre tax exemptions that reduce state revenue without commensurately large employment gains, and grid-capacity implications of large power loads. Oklahoma's electricity grid is served primarily by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the state has attracted significant data centre interest due to relatively affordable land and power costs.
SB 1488's three-year duration signals legislative intent to create breathing room for regulatory frameworks to catch up with the pace of data centre development rather than a permanent prohibition on the sector.