The Idaho Legislature passed a bill during the 2026 session establishing limitations on the consumptive use of water for cooling certain data centers.

The bill addresses a growing concern in Idaho about the water demands of large-scale data center operations. Data centers use significant quantities of water for cooling their server infrastructure, and several western states have faced pushback from residents and agricultural interests over competition for limited water resources.

In North Idaho, where water rights and land use are persistent local issues, the bill has relevance for Kootenai County’s continued growth. The region has seen increased interest from technology companies, and local officials have fielded questions about the infrastructure demands of large commercial developments.

The bill’s specific provisions, including what types of data centers fall under the limitations and the water consumption thresholds, are available through the Idaho Legislature’s bill center at legislature.idaho.gov.

Idaho is among a growing number of western states taking legislative action on data center resource consumption. The issue sits at the intersection of economic development, water rights, and property rights that North Idaho voters have been vocal about for years.