State Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison) has announced her role as co-author of Senate Bill 729, a legislative proposal aimed at controlling rising utility costs and preventing large technology companies from overusing Wisconsin’s natural resources. The bill was introduced by Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin and Representative Angela Stroud.
Senator Roys addressed concerns about increasing expenses for families in Wisconsin, citing higher grocery prices, healthcare premiums, and stagnant wages. She stated: “Across the state, Wisconsinites expect their government to be a force for good to prevent people and communities from being exploited.”
She noted that residents across political lines have expressed worries about data centers. These concerns include unregulated corporate influence on local communities, potential increases in electricity prices, and risks to water supplies. “Traveling across Wisconsin, I’ve heard concerns from people across the political spectrum about the challenges that data centers pose: unregulated corporate power running roughshod over local needs, huge increases in the price of electricity, and damage to our water supply. We also want to ensure that Wisconsin workers benefit from the development and maintenance of these centers with high-paying jobs,” said Roys.
The proposed legislation seeks to create statewide guidelines for data center development. According to Roys: “We need a statewide framework for data center development that ensures Wisconsinites’ needs are met – that we don’t see utility costs increase, preserve local self-determination, and protect our natural resources and rural communities.”
Roys further emphasized: “The same tech billionaires that have rigged our economy and broken our democracy cannot be allowed free reign in our state. This legislation prevents data centers from passing utility project costs onto Wisconsinites, sets standards to protect our natural resources for future generations, and prioritizes family-supporting jobs.”
Senator Roys represents the 26th Senate District in Dane County. Her district includes urban, suburban, and rural areas. She serves on committees such as the Joint Committee on Finance and is ranking member of the Joint Committee on Review of Administrative Rules. She also co-chairs the Reproductive Freedom working group and participates in the LGBTQ+ Caucus (official website).
Her background includes work on criminal justice reform initiatives as well as advancing compassionate care legislation (official website). Elected to the State Assembly in 2009 where she served until 2013 (official website), Roys holds degrees from New York University and University of Wisconsin Law School (official website). She has participated on boards including Clean Lakes Alliance, ACLU of Wisconsin, and Common Cause (official website). Her legislative focus includes reproductive freedom issues through caucus work (official website).