SR 12

1 State of Arkansas
2 95th General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2026  SR 12
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5 By: Senator B. King
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8SENATE RESOLUTION
9TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NONAPPROPRIATION
10BILL TO MONITOR THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND
11DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON WATER USAGE; TO ALLOW FOR THE
12CLOSURE OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET
13MINING OPERATIONS IF WATER USAGE IS EXCESSIVE; TO
14MONITOR THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL
15ASSET MINING ON THE ELECTRIC GRID; AND TO ALLOW FOR
16THE HALT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET
17MINING OPERATIONS IF THE ELECTRIC GRID IS THREATENED.
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19
20Subtitle
21TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A
22NONAPPROPRIATION BILL TO REGULATE THE
23IMPACT ON WATER USAGE AND THE ELECTRICAL
24GRID BY BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL
25ASSET MINING.
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28 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
29 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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31THAT Senator King is authorized to introduce a bill which as introduced
32 will read substantially as follows:
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34 "Title
35 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023; TO AMEND THE LAW
36 CONCERNING THE POWERS OF THE ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION; TO
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1 MONITOR THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON WATER
2 USAGE; TO ALLOW FOR THE CLOSURE OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET
3 MINING OPERATIONS IF WATER USAGE IS EXCESSIVE; TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING
4 THE AUTHORITY OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO MONITOR THE
5 IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET MINING ON THE ELECTRIC GRID;
6 TO ALLOW FOR THE HALT OF BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS OR DIGITAL ASSET MINING
7 OPERATIONS IF THE ELECTRIC GRID IS THREATENED; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
8
9 Subtitle
10 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS DATA CENTERS ACT OF 2023; AND TO REGULATE THE IMPACT ON
11 WATER USAGE AND THE ELECTRIC GRID BY BLOCKCHAIN NETWORKS AND DIGITAL ASSET
12 MINING.
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14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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16      SECTION 1.    Arkansas Code Title 14, Chapter 1, Subchapter 6, is amended
17 to add additional sections to read as follows:
18      14-1-607.    Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to monitor impact of
19 blockchain networks and digital asset mining on water usage — Rules.
20      The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission:
21(1)    Shall monitor the impact of blockchain networks and digital
22 asset mining on water usage in this state;
23(2)    May take action under § 15-22-204 against a blockchain
24 network or a digital asset mining business if the impact of the blockchain
25 network or digital asset mining business threatens the critical groundwater
26 supplies of this state through excessive use of water; and
27(3)    Shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
28
29      14-1-608.    Arkansas Public Service Commission to monitor impact of
30 blockchain networks and digital asset mining on electric grid — Rules.
31      The Arkansas Public Service Commission:
32(1)    Shall monitor the impact of blockchain networks and digital
33 asset mining on the electric grid;
34(2)    May direct a utility to halt service to a blockchain network
35 or digital asset mining business if the impact of the blockchain network or
36 digital asset mining business threatens the reliability of the electric grid;
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1 and
2(3)    Shall promulgate rules to implement this section.
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4SECTION 2.    DO NOT CODIFY.   Rules.
5(a)   When adopting the initial rules to implement this act, the final
6 rule shall be filed with the Secretary of State for adoption under § 25-15-
7 204(f):
8(1)    On or before January 1, 2027; or
9(2)    If approval under § 10-3-309 has not occurred by January 1,
10 2027, as soon as practicable after approval under § 10-3-309.
11(b)   The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Arkansas Public
12 Service Commission shall file the proposed rule with the Legislative Council
13 under § 10-3-309(c) sufficiently in advance of January 1, 2027, so that the
14 Legislative Council may consider the rule for approval before January 1,
15 2027."
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