A Fort Worth-area Texas lawmaker plans to introduce legislation on a hot button topic: data centers.
After co-authoring laws regulating the use of artificial intelligence within state and local government agencies, state Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, is crafting bills relating to the fast-growing technology hubs. Public outcry around the data centers has led the Fort Worth City Council to vote for a moratorium, and Gov. Greg Abbott has introduced a temporary moratorium.
Though he did not provide any specifics, Parker said at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Leaders in Government series on Sept. 17 that the legislation will be informed by his experience during the Barnett Shale natural gas drilling growth in the early part of this century. Then, Parker was representing communities in north Tarrant and Denton counties.
“One of the bills I will carry next session will be a framework that is based on historical experience with other industries,” he said.
That initial experience with the oil and gas industry setting up drilling sites in populated areas was not good, he said.
“They came in arrogant, out of touch, tone deaf,” he said. “They were not paying attention to local interests.”
Parker said he worked with the oil and gas industry to change that behavior and get them involved with and answering community questions.
Parker also authored an amendment to a bill requiring oil and gas companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in fracking.
Parker said he plans to write data center legislation that establishes public discussion and transparency requirements.
“I don’t mandate things on business,” he said. “It will incentivize them. I will encourage good behavior, and that’s what we did at that time (during the Barnett Shale).”
While Parker works on plans to file a bill when the Texas Legislature meets starting Jan. 12, he also made clear he believes data centers are key to the future success of the state.
“I’ll be very direct and I’ll be very candid,” he said. “I believe that we must continue to develop data centers in Texas and, frankly, across the country. Why? Big picture, it’s essential to our survival.”
Parker said national security and economic security require the state and the nation to take a leadership role in data centers.
“If we don’t win, if we’re not dominant when it comes to technology, we will lose this state and we lose this nation,” he said.
Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, said Parker’s role in the legislature is key to the city’s economic future.
“From a public policy perspective, state Sen. Parker sits at the intersection of transportation, education and workforce — three areas that are fundamental to Fort Worth’s long-term economic growth and prosperity,” Montgomery said. “He is a strong champion for our region and for the economic future of Texas.”
Parker is no stranger to crafting technology-related legislation.
In the past two legislative sessions, Parker, along with state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, has authored bills related to artificial intelligence. Last session, Parker authored and Capriglione co-sponsored Senate Bill 1964 that established Texas’ first comprehensive artificial intelligence governance framework for public agencies, which was later signed into law.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Parker is key to helping the state transportation system keep up with its growth.
There are big hurdles to clear in transportation, he said.
“We have many tens of billions of additional investment we need to make in our transportation infrastructure over the course of the next decade,” he said.
That money has not been found yet, he said.
“We’re going to live within our means, but we’re going to grow our way out of that problem, and we’re going to find creative ways to continue to invest in that transportation infrastructure for the good of the state of Texas,” he said.
Parker, who grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Nolan Catholic High School was first elected in 2006 to the House and was elected to the Senate in 2022.
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
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