Consultants said data centers' water use depends on cooling technology and that monitoring (real‑time metering) and development agreements can cap or price consumption; they noted Columbus handles metering for large customers.

Chairman Hayes presented a substitute to HB 7 97 directing the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA) to authorize a voluntary marketplace of licensed independent verification organizations (IVOs) to evaluate AI products. Supporters called the model market‑driven and voluntary; industry groups warned of duplication and state‑to‑state fragmentation. The substitute was reported and referred to appropriations (recorded vote 6–2).