A Fort Worth-area Texas lawmaker plans to introduce legislation on a hot button topic: data centers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After co-authoring laws<\/a> 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> a temporary moratorium.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/a> of this century. Then, Parker was representing communities in north Tarrant and Denton counties.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the bills I will carry next session will be a framework that is based on historical experience with other industries,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n That initial experience with the oil and gas industry setting up drilling sites in populated areas was not good, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey came in arrogant, out of touch, tone deaf,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were not paying attention to local interests.\u201d<\/p>\n Parker said he worked with the oil and gas industry to change that behavior and get them involved with and answering community questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Parker also authored an amendment<\/a> to a bill requiring oil and gas companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in fracking.\u00a0<\/p>\n Parker said he plans to write data center legislation that establishes public discussion and transparency requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mandate things on business,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will incentivize them. I will encourage good behavior, and that\u2019s what we did at that time (during the Barnett Shale).\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be very direct and I\u2019ll be very candid,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe that we must continue to develop data centers in Texas and, frankly, across the country. Why? Big picture, it\u2019s essential to our survival.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Parker said national security and economic security require the state and the nation to take a leadership role in data centers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf we don\u2019t win, if we\u2019re not dominant when it comes to technology, we will lose this state and we lose this nation,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, said Parker\u2019s role in the legislature is key to the city\u2019s economic future.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a public policy perspective, state Sen. Parker sits at the intersection of transportation, education and workforce \u2014 three areas that are fundamental to Fort Worth\u2019s long-term economic growth and prosperity,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cHe is a strong champion for our region and for the economic future of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Parker is no stranger to crafting technology-related legislation.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/a> that established Texas\u2019 first comprehensive artificial intelligence governance framework<\/a> for public agencies, which was later signed into law.\u00a0<\/p>\n As chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Parker is key to helping the state transportation system keep up with its growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are big hurdles to clear in transportation, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have many tens of billions of additional investment we need to make in our transportation infrastructure over the course of the next decade,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n That money has not been found yet, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to live within our means, but we\u2019re going to grow our way out of that problem, and we\u2019re going to find creative ways to continue to invest in that transportation infrastructure for the good of the state of Texas,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n