State Rep. David Spiller told Young County constituents on Oct. 12 that property tax relief, protections for residents near data centers and water policy will be major issues in the next legislative session. Speaking at a Young County Republican Party meeting in Graham, he also named safeguards for law enforcement surveillance cameras and changes to how high-voltage transmission lines are routed. Spiller, a Republican, faces Democrat Jasmine Henderson in the Nov. 3 election.
Spiller said lawmakers agree on more property tax relief but have different ideas about how to deliver it. He predicted legislation on property appraisals and local taxing and spending, and said he does not necessarily prefer that outcome.
Spiller said he has drafted data center legislation covering county approval, locations, setbacks, water use, lighting, noise and developers bringing their own power. He said the Texas Legislative Council is reviewing it. Residents asked who would pay to remove abandoned data centers. Spiller compared the risk to orphaned oil and gas wells and said cleanup rules are needed for data centers, power plants, wind turbines and solar facilities.