Democrats block Sen. Husted’s bill forcing data centers to pay their own way; bill passed House, 417-3 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate attempted to advance Sen. Jon Husted’s (R-Ohio) Ratepayer Protection Act, but the bill failed after Democrats opposed the bill; 43 Senate Democrats voted no, preventing the bill from reaching the 60-vote threshold to advance for a vote on passage.

The Ratepayer Protection Act would require states to consider establishing standards for states and Public Utility Commissions when connecting large electricity users—such as data centers—to the grid. It ensures those large tech companies, not families or small businesses, pay for the power generation, transmission lines and other infrastructure needed to serve their facilities. Without those protections, utilities can shift those costs onto ratepayers through higher monthly electricity bills.

Husted introduced the bill on July 16, 2026.

The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 16, 2026, by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 417-3.

Husted previously brought the bill to the Senate floor on Sept. 17, 2026, seeking its passage by unanimous consent—a process that expedites consideration of legislation in the U.S. Senate. A Senate Democrat objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage.

The White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy stating the President would’ve signed the Ratepayer Protection Act into law if passed.

Key excerpts include:

“I rise today to speak about making life more affordable by lowering electricity prices through my bill, the Ratepayer Protection Act. Americans are increasingly relying on the computing power of data centers in nearly every part of their daily lives, from medicine to manufacturing to agriculture, education, national defense and the delivery of basic services. As our reliance on this technology grows, so does the demand for data centers across the country.

“We have to make sure that the growth of these data centers does not mean higher electric bills for working families, for senior citizens or for small businesses. That's what we're talking about today. Making the data centers accountable, not the American ratepayer.”

“That's why I've introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act.

“My bill ensures that large data centers pay their fair share of electricity costs, infrastructure costs that they require, requiring them to own the responsibility for those costs rather than shifting them to other ratepayers.”

“So today we are considering the House passed version of my bill before this chamber. It passed the House 417 to 3.

“It could be law today if we just decide that we're going to look out for the American ratepayer, and we're going to take action to do so.”

“And among those who voted yes on the Democratic side were Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and every single member of the House Democratic leadership.

“They all supported the bill in the House.”

“The Ratepayer Protection Act is such a no brainer that almost the most conservative and the most liberal representatives all agreed it was good policy.”

“All we have to do is take yes for an answer.

“And we will begin today lowering electricity rates for American ratepayers.”

“It's clear that big tech should be paying their own way, not passing the cost on to local communities and states.

“And this bill does that.”

“Together, we can send this bill to the president's desk for his signature today and prove to the American people we heard them, that we're doing something to actually help lower their prices, the prices that they pay for electricity.”

“The Ratepayer Protection Act represents the most meaningful bipartisan step Congress can take to protect the American people from paying higher prices for electricity.”

“It demonstrates that in Washington it’s still possible to work in a bipartisan way to address the problems most pressing to the American people, and I am proud to have led this effort in the United States Senate.”

“Let's rise above the politics that often drag this place down and deliver for the American people and do our jobs.”

“I listened to the Democratic leader talk about this bill a few moments ago, and I implore him to stop blocking this bill.

“Stop blocking this bill. Let it go.

“Give us a chance on a bipartisan basis to prove that we care about what the American people are asking us to do. Making life more affordable. In this case, lowering their electricity prices.”

“I would like for everybody in this chamber to take credit for lowering electricity prices and holding data centers accountable. But if Democrats block this bill, they will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they do not care about affordability and that they will not do anything to take action to help.”

“Let's get this done. Let's lower electricity prices. Let's hold data centers accountable. And let's stop blocking a path to affordability.”