WEST HEMPFIELD, PA – August 13, 2026 − On Thursday, State Senator James Andrew Malone joined local municipal leaders from West Hempfield, East Hempfield, Columbia, and Manheim Township at the West Hempfield Township Municipal Office to demand that Pennsylvania Senate Republican leadership call the Senate back into session immediately and pass data center moratorium legislation. With hyperscale data center proposals emerging rapidly across Lancaster and the Commonwealth, Senator Malone and local leaders emphasized the need for municipalities to have time to update their zoning laws and ordinances to protect their communities.
“We don’t have time to waste,” said Senator Malone. “Many municipalities have not had the appropriate time to define and update zoning laws for data centers in a way that respects the will of local communities in Lancaster and protects residents. Senate Republican leadership must call the Senate back into session immediately and allow the bipartisan majority that supports these bills to vote on them.”
Currently, two bipartisan bills are under consideration that would give municipalities the power to enact temporary moratoriums on data center development while they update local zoning rules and ordinances: HB 2496 and SB 1345. HB 2496 already passed the PA House by an overwhelming majority and would give municipalities the ability to impose an 180-day moratorium on data center development. SB 1345 would give municipalities the option for an 18-month moratorium.
Senator Malone recently joined Republican and Democratic colleagues to advance both pieces of legislation out of the Senate Local Government Committee. They now await consideration by the full Senate, which is not scheduled to meet again until September 28.
“Pennsylvania’s land use laws make the process of updating and amending local ordinances slow and complex,” said West Hempfield Township Manager Andrew Stern. “As a result, municipalities like ours often cannot move quickly enough to fully understand potential impacts or implement appropriate regulations before development proposals arrive… That is why West Hempfield Township has been advocating for state assistance and for a pause in the approval process.”
“In the case of emerging land uses, municipalities should have the time they need to thoroughly formulate effective controls that protect the interests of their communities,” said Columbia Borough Council Vice President Heather Zink. “Our state representatives have recognized this challenge and answered the call by passing legislation that would allow local municipalities to declare a moratorium on data center applications. We’re now asking the Senate to return to work and pass that same legislation.”
“We believe in local decision-making and giving our community a direct voice in determining if data center developments are appropriate for our municipality,” said Manheim Township Board of Commissioners President Carol Gifford. “We need some time to put the proper guardrails in place to protect our citizens and our communities. We need the state to support local municipalities.”
With the PA Senate not set to meet again until September 28, Senator Malone and these local municipal leaders called on Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Senate Republican Majority Leader Joe Pittman to bring the Senate back to Harrisburg immediately to vote on the bills.
Senator Malone encouraged voters to call the offices of both leaders and demand they do the same:
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward: 717-787-6063
Senate Republican Majority Leader Joe Pittman: 717-787-8724
Photos from today’s press conference are available for use by media HERE.
Livestream footage from today’s press conference is available HERE.
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