Transcript Highlights:

• It would create the new office to coordinate nuclear energy regulation. nuclear energy regulation for
• It paved the way. ...for nuclear energy.
• It paved the way that when the NRC, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has all oversight of nuclear
• , whether it is the different steps of the nuclear fuel cycle or the generation of nuclear power itself
• At OED, we're also looking to help educate communities and political leaders on nuclear power, nuclear

Committee: Joint Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> things. uh end the moratorium on nuclear things. uh end the moratorium on nuclear energy<00:10:40.079
• c> cash</c> tax on nuclear energy and nuclear cash tax on nuclear energy and nuclear cash storage<00:
• </c><00:13:29.279><c> energy,</c> bounds when it comes to nuclear energy, bounds when it comes to nuclear
• fuel at Prairie Island spent nuclear fuel at Prairie Island nuclear<00:26:42.960><c> power</c><00:26
• </c><00:31:34.320><c> Um</c> nuclear moratorum. That was all good. Um nuclear moratorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nuclear power generates about 20 percent of the nation's current electricity.
• While in the private sector, my time was spent largely on nuclear projects.
• a good management plan for, you know, the nuclear waste.
• Rather, we get continued operation of the existing nuclear fleet and make sure that we get new nuclear
• Nuclear Energy Institute, the Colorado Nuclear Alliance, Nuclear Innovation Alliance, that the DOE has

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• study the feasibility of using advanced nuclear power technologies in this state.
• </c><00:31:41.679><c> and</c> committee it turned into nuclear and committee it turned into nuclear and
• </c><00:32:25.039><c> power</c> compelling evidence that nuclear power compelling evidence that nuclear
• ><c> energy</c><00:32:54.880><c> agency</c> readiness, the nuclear energy agency readiness, the nuclear
• </c><00:36:40.640><c> power</c> 1970s to uh construct a nuclear power 1970s to uh construct a nuclear

Transcript Highlights:

• are bidding for nuclear facilities.
• the nation in nuclear.
• Again, I'm not a nuclear scientist, but it's crucial to... ...nuclear development, and it's something
• energy or nuclear power plant.
• energy or nuclear power plant.

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee heard a series of budget presentations and acted on several FY 2026 and FY 2027 items. Noah Peterson reviewed the General Fund Daily Update, noting large FY 2026 supplemental actions for Medicaid and Corrections that reduced the estimated ending balance, and a FY 2027 outlook that still had room for remaining work. He also flagged several policy bills with fiscal impacts, including county jail per diem changes, a state police bill, and a health and welfare board/position bill. Janet Jessup then walked the committee through Department of Environmental Quality and Soil and Water Conservation actions. The committee approved adding four FTP for DEQ’s solid waste regulatory program and adopted related language transferring $400,000 from the hazardous waste emergency fund to support the new solid waste regulatory fund. It also approved a CREP supplemental for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and then voted to move the commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources, including a corresponding reduction in Agriculture and an addition in Water Resources. The committee adopted language to align the new budget structure and approved a one-time $390,000 restoration in the Department of Water Resources to avoid reducing stream-gauging and water-monitoring services. The committee next considered the consolidation of the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a new Office of Species, Mineral, and Energy Coordination. It approved reductions to the two existing offices and then debated competing motions for the new office. The substitute motion to cut four FTP and reduce spending more deeply failed, while the original motion to reduce two FTP and preserve more staffing for nuclear and mining coordination passed. Members and the agency administrator argued that Idaho needs a stronger “one-stop shop” for nuclear and mining projects, while others emphasized following the policy bill moving through the legislature and capturing consolidation savings. The committee also approved a DOPL budget item for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Most motions passed with do-pass recommendations, and the committee announced it would meet again the next day; Senate Finance was noted as on hold, while House Appropriations would continue after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• moratorium and expanding the state's nuclear capabilities.
• When people think about nuclear energy, they can often picture the worst-case scenarios.
• </c><00:03:54.079><c> energy</c> benefit from utilizing nuclear energy benefit from utilizing nuclear
• </c><00:04:47.039><c> and</c> three sources coal gas and nuclear and three sources coal gas and nuclear
• </c> generation that coal gas and nuclear generation that coal gas and nuclear have<00:05:08.320><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima nuclear power disasters have proven nuclear power is not
• </c> here in Hawaii uh creating a nuclear here in Hawaii uh creating a nuclear task<00:20:12.400><c>
• </c><00:20:25.159><c> power</c> Chernobyl for Fukushima nuclear power Chernobyl for Fukushima nuclear
• Why is nuclear?
• ><c> and</c> this country is powered by nuclear and this country is powered by nuclear and nuclear<00

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures, with the main discussion centered on energy policy. SB 993 on geothermal exploration drew support from the State Energy Office and others, who described geothermal as a key low-cost, firm renewable resource and said the state should fund community outreach and resource research. However, the chairs deferred further action on SB 993 because a similar bill, SB 1068, had already passed the prior week. SB 202 on renewable energy also received broad support, including testimony that net energy metering benefits households and helps clean energy adoption, while Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s changes to the NEM forfeit feature as unfair to non-solar customers. SB 1588 on nuclear energy drew sharply divided testimony: supporters argued the bill would only study nuclear options and that the state should consider all tools, while opponents from 350 Hawaii and Greenpeace said nuclear is unsafe, costly, and inconsistent with Hawaii’s clean energy goals and constitution. The committee also heard SB 73 on county permits, SB 100 on intoxicating liquor, SB 1234 on government efficiency, and SB 1336 on a greenhouse gas sequestration task force. SB 100 was described as helping a Maui nonprofit recruit board members by addressing liquor commission-related fingerprinting or background-check issues, and the Attorney General’s technical amendments were accepted. SB 1234 was framed as improving coordination among state, federal, and local agencies, though HGEA opposed it as an opening to privatize government services. SB 1336, which would establish a task force to study greenhouse gas sequestration and related mitigation topics, drew some questions about its scope but was supported as a way to study climate mitigation and green infrastructure. In the later portion of the meeting, the committee took votes and adopted recommendations on several bills. SB 73 was passed with an amendment setting a defective date of May 13, 2040. SB 100 was passed with amendments, SB 202 was passed with amendments including technical changes and allowing the PUC to set the customer credit rate, SB 1234 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040, SB 1336 was passed as is, and SB 1588 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040. The committee also took up SB 161 on county permitting and inspection, agreeing to a package of amendments that would soften exemption language, remove some inspection and certificate-of-occupancy provisions, add flood-hazard language, require reporting and a working group, and set a defective date of May 13, 2040; the bill was then passed with those amendments. SB 635 on energy efficiency was passed with amendments assigning the State Energy Office to lead a survey and prioritizing first responder facilities, and SB 700 on renewable energy was introduced with proposed amendments, though the transcript cuts off before its final disposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:47.040><c> waste</c> um has a large amount of nuclear waste um has a large amount of nuclear
• </c> country has to live to nuclear waste. country has to live to nuclear waste.
• There are two smaller ways we deliver nuclear power: advanced nuclear and so-called small modular nuclear
• The Senate has funded a nuclear study.
• So, if something that nuclear power.

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota’s clean energy policy, energy affordability, and the state’s path toward its 100% clean electricity goal. The senator said Minnesota’s clean energy reputation comes from environmental concern, job creation, and lower long-term costs, noting that wind is now the lowest-cost generation source and that solar costs have fallen sharply. He said rising electricity demand has led to some increased coal use, but argued the state can still meet its 2040 clean energy target through continued renewable buildout, permitting reform, conservation, and demand response. A major topic was data centers. The senator emphasized both concerns and benefits, saying hyperscale data centers can bring substantial construction jobs, property tax revenue, and, under the 2025 law, payments to low-income energy assistance. He cited the Pine Island Google data center as air-cooled, with no water concerns, and said it will pay $5 million annually while funding 1,600 MW of wind, solar, and battery resources at its own expense. He also said Xcel’s filing projected a $1.1 billion ratepayer savings over 10 years, while urging the public to weigh both pros and cons, especially around water use and local tax impacts. The discussion also covered nuclear power and climate costs. The senator said the Senate has passed a nuclear study three years in a row and expects it to advance, while the moratorium on new nuclear plants remains tied to the Prairie Island Indian Community and unresolved nuclear waste storage. He argued Minnesota likely cannot reach its emissions goals without nuclear in the mix, though he acknowledged current nuclear is not cost-competitive and said future advanced or small modular nuclear could change that. On affordability, he pointed to climate-driven costs such as higher homeowners insurance and storm damage, and described Senate energy omnibus provisions including conservation, plug-in solar, and renewable development account projects such as a Como Zoo clean energy project. No votes were taken in the interview itself, but the senator referenced the recently announced budget deal and said he still needed to negotiate a renewable development account agreement between the House and Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. nuclear energy working group to study nuclear energy working group to study the<00:13:55.519
• </c><00:15:27.199><c> waste</c> worsen the challenges of nuclear waste worsen the challenges of nuclear
• </c><00:19:50.720><c> energy</c> clear consensus um that nuclear energy clear consensus um that nuclear
• </c> been any Hawaii based study for nuclear been any Hawaii based study for nuclear energy<00:23:46.320
• </c> that are viable. if if nuclear energy that are viable. if if nuclear energy turns<00:28:38.399><

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met on April 16, 2025, and heard three resolutions. STR 57 SD1 urged Congress to create a national reinsurance program to address insurance impacts from catastrophic natural disasters; there was no public testimony, and the committee later recommended passage without amendment. STR 198 SD1 encouraged Hawaii insurers and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to pursue subrogation claims against polluters to reduce insurance costs for residents; again, there was no public testimony, and the committee recommended passage without amendment. The committee spent most of its hearing on STR 136 SD1/HD1, which would create a Hawaii State Energy Office nuclear energy working group to study advanced nuclear power technologies. The Public Utilities Commission and State Energy Office provided written testimony and answered questions. Testimony from 350 Hawaii, Energy Justice Network, and an individual witness opposed the measure, arguing nuclear power and small modular reactors are too expensive, unproven, slow to deploy, create unresolved safety and waste issues, and do not align with Hawaii’s renewable energy goals. Opponents also criticized the measure’s amendment process, saying it replaced the original contents without adequate public notice. During decision-making, the committee adopted the recommendation to pass STR 57 SD1 unamended and STR 198 SD1 unamended. For STR 136 SD1/HD1, the committee adopted a recommendation to pass the measure with amendments, including changing it to a one-year working group with an interim report in 2026 and a final report before the 2027 Legislature. The motion passed with one recorded no vote and some excused members, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• For nuclear facility projects.
• provide nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel assembly manufacturing that will be sold all across the world.
• Cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation would be a top priority instead of nuclear power expansion
• The area should not be used for nuclear power buildup or handling nuclear waste, whether from past highly
• toxic waste of nuclear weapons.

Summary: House Finance heard bill briefings and testimony on several tax and property-tax measures. HB 2175 would exempt licensed nonprofit providers of free durable medical equipment from retail sales and use tax on items reasonably necessary to operate and provide care; the sponsor and a nonprofit provider described how the bill would help organizations that refurbish and donate wheelchairs, beds, walkers, and similar equipment, and staff noted a small Department of Revenue fiscal impact. The committee then heard HB 2608, which revises the targeted urban area property tax exemption for nuclear facility projects by requiring labor standards, including submission of a workforce or project labor agreement and related wage/apprenticeship information, and extending project-completion deadlines. Supporters said it would help attract major clean-energy and nuclear supply-chain investment and jobs, while opponents from construction groups, environmental advocates, and some public commenters objected to the PLA requirement, the tax preference for nuclear projects, and the broader policy direction; tribal consultation concerns were also raised. No votes were taken on these bills in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 2227, which expands an existing REET exemption for affordable homeownership sales from self-help housing to other nonprofit affordable homeownership programs, including community land trusts. The sponsor and nonprofit witnesses said the change would lower transaction costs, improve affordability, and support permanently affordable resale models; staff clarified the exemption applies to the initial sale from the nonprofit to an income-qualified buyer, not later resales. HB 2528 would allow cities and counties that fully plan under the Growth Management Act to impose the second local REET without voter approval, aligning opt-in jurisdictions with those required to plan under GMA. Supporters from cities and counties said the revenue would help fund sidewalks, ADA upgrades, water, sewer, and other infrastructure, while opponents argued it would raise home-selling costs and bypass voters. Finally, the committee heard HB 2292, which would subject long-term capital gains from qualified small business stock to the state capital gains tax beginning in 2026. Staff said the bill would affect about 260 taxpayers and raise roughly $1.2 million in FY 2027, while the sponsor and supporters argued the current QSBS exemption mainly benefits very wealthy investors and should be treated like other capital gains; opponents from the tech and startup community said the exemption helps founders attract investment, keep companies in Washington, and create jobs, and warned the bill would send a negative signal to entrepreneurs. The committee also heard HB 2257, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, largely to codify guidance from last year’s sales-tax-on-services law and make other clarifications; DOR said it was intended to provide certainty and had no fiscal impact. School groups testified that the 5814-related service-tax changes have increased costs for districts, especially for staffing and professional learning, and asked for relief or a broader exemption.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance. the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance.
• Finally, with the nuclear power plant just across the river, we definitely support nuclear power.
• </c> nuclear waste. Thank you, Senator. nuclear waste. Thank you, Senator.
• </c> haven't lifted the nuclear moratorium. haven't lifted the nuclear moratorium.
• </c> climate change without nuclear power." climate change without nuclear power."

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from the nuclear regulatory commission. from the nuclear regulatory commission.
• forward uh in nuclear energy we move forward uh in nuclear energy that<00:11:29.440><c> u</c><00:11:
• </c> designated as a nuclear ready community. designated as a nuclear ready community.
• </c><00:17:09.919><c> Uh</c> move nuclear energy forward. Uh move nuclear energy forward.
• </c> nuclear ecosystem. nuclear ecosystem.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• a nuclear bill for you.
• , not just advanced nuclear.
• Nuclear energy is clean energy.
• was very important once we got past the fact that it's nuclear and not nuclear.
• I think we... ...once we've got past the fact that it's nuclear and not nuclear.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee considered a full agenda of transportation, utility, aviation, and energy bills. HB 4045, amending the Jacksonville Aviation Authority charter, passed without questions or debate. HB 1075, which would require municipal utilities to allow outside property owners to connect when capacity exists and fees are paid, drew testimony from local government and municipal advocates who warned about conflicts with existing agreements, long infrastructure payback periods, and the risk of subsidizing nonresidents; despite concerns from Rep. Smith and others about municipal boundaries and cost, the bill passed, with Smith voting no. HB 519, as amended, authorizes golf cart crossings at signalized intersections on designated golf cart roads; it passed unanimously after lighthearted debate about golf carts and pedestrian crossings. The committee then took up HB 919, which creates a state definition for major commercial service airports and preempts airport naming authority, including renaming Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA, county, and trademark-related conditions. Palm Beach County supported the bill and an amendment clarifying implementation and trademark language, while Rep. Eskamani and others raised concerns about preemption and the timing of honoring a sitting president; the bill passed with several no votes, including Eskamani, Skidmore, and the ranking member. HB 1093, the Advanced Air Mobility and Infrastructure Act, would support eVTOL/vertiport development through tax exemptions, infrastructure funding flexibility, and statewide siting standards while preserving local zoning; supporters framed it as an economic-development and workforce bill, while Rep. Cheney raised taxpayer concerns. An amendment narrowing liability protections for vertiports co-located with public airports was adopted, and the bill passed with Cheney voting no. Finally, HB 1461 established a regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactors, assigning oversight roles to the PSC, DOH, and DEP. Supporters argued the bill would improve energy reliability, affordability, and Florida’s leadership in clean, advanced energy, while an opponent from Deploy US urged strong consumer protections and cautioned against overbroad deregulation. Rep. Eskamani emphasized preserving PSC prudency review for ratepayer protection, and the sponsor said the bill was refined through committee discussion. After an amendment fixing technical issues and clarifying that one section applied to all nuclear, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of energy density and the ability of nuclear generation to run dependably 24-7, nuclear energy
• We all know that discussion of nuclear energy in the public arena is fraught.
• I hold a PhD in nuclear physics from MIT and worked on nuclear arms control in the State Department and
• Nuclear power is the only carbon-free source that can do that essential job.
• And I also want to speak to the nuclear concern, and that as we know what nuclear energy does, it takes

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on offshore wind, battery storage, solar, nuclear study proposals, and a bill to redefine clean energy. Several Barnstable-area legislators and witnesses raised concerns about offshore wind transmission infrastructure near neighborhoods, beaches, and drinking water supplies, and supported bills to create a special commission and increase local input and oversight. In contrast, environmental, consumer, labor, and clean energy groups strongly backed offshore wind expansion bills, arguing that offshore wind lowers long-term costs, improves winter reliability, reduces fossil fuel dependence, supports jobs and local supply chains, and should include wildlife protections, labor standards, and community benefits. Some witnesses and committee members noted that parts of the offshore wind legislation overlap with the Governor’s energy affordability bill, and asked for clarification on which provisions were new versus duplicative. The committee also heard testimony on battery storage and solar legislation. Two student witnesses and several industry representatives supported a bill to study grid battery storage, saying storage can reduce outages, lower peak prices, and improve grid resilience during extreme weather. Witnesses from solar and storage companies supported a broader clean energy transition bill that would expand storage procurement, create a retail-style storage program for distributed batteries, set a 10-gigawatt solar target by 2035, and streamline siting and interconnection. Committee members pressed witnesses on whether these provisions were already included in the Governor’s affordability bill and asked for a section-by-section breakdown of what was new. One witness also urged allowing developers to bond interconnection payments to reduce financing costs. Another major topic was a bill defining clean energy, especially whether existing pumped-storage hydropower should qualify for subsidies or be excluded. Supporters of the bill argued that existing pumped storage should not receive additional ratepayer subsidies because it is already built, can have environmental impacts on rivers and ecosystems, and could cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Opponents said pumped storage is an important reliability resource and should remain eligible. The committee also heard testimony on nuclear-energy study bills: some witnesses supported creating a commission to examine nuclear power as a reliable, carbon-free option, while others opposed nuclear study bills and argued that nuclear is costly, unsafe, and inconsistent with the state’s clean energy goals. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates, within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, the Nuclear Reactor Site
• nuclear nuclear uh<00:13:42.800><c> energy</c><00:13:43.279><c> development</c><00:13:43.760><c> authority
• He said the bill would create, within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, the Nuclear
• Senate Bill 57, an act relating to nuclear energy development. Senator Carol.
• </c><00:18:09.280><c> energy</c> 57, an act relating to nuclear energy 57, an act relating to nuclear

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Rita Barrenwall, and I am the chief nuclear officer at Radiant Nuclear.
• I have nearly 30 years of leadership in the nuclear sector, including as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear
• Nuclear energy is safe. Nuclear energy is safe, reliable, and clean.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• I've dealt with fusion, quantum, AI, and I commend you for nuclear, micro-nuclear, because it is our

Summary: The committee heard several bills and one resolution focused on recycling, housing affordability, air quality, coastal protection, wildfire resilience, and nuclear policy. AB 2559, by Assembly Member Ward, would require local governments to return refundable construction and demolition permit deposits if compliance documentation is submitted within three years of final inspection; supporters said it would prevent homeowners and developers from losing deposits due to mismatched local deadlines, and it passed unanimously as amended to Appropriations. AB 1704, by Assembly Member Gonzalez, would require CARB to assess the cost of lower-embodied-carbon building materials and pause the embodied-carbon program if cost parity is not reached; supporters framed it as a housing affordability safeguard, while environmental groups argued it would delay implementation of a key climate law. The bill passed on a party-line vote to Appropriations. AB 2349, by Assembly Member Solache, would create regional air quality incident response centers for emergency monitoring and coordination; it drew strong support from air district and local government representatives and passed unanimously to Appropriations. ACR 149, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and Coastal Conservancy, highlighted coastal access, habitat protection, and climate adaptation; it passed the committee, though some members voted no. AB 1960, by Assembly Member Bennett, would let Cal Fire fund community-level wildfire hardening projects through the Wildfire Prevention Grants Fund; members raised questions about funding and implementation, but it passed to Appropriations. AB 2254, the Coastal Monarchs Protection Act, would require coastal local governments to add monarch overwintering protections when updating local coastal plans; supporters cited steep monarch declines and economic benefits, while local government groups opposed the mandate as duplicative and burdensome, and it passed to Water, Parks and Wildlife. AB 2253 would restrict deceptive recycled-content claims and mass-balance accounting practices; supporters said it would protect consumers and real recyclers, while business groups argued it would conflict with recognized accounting systems and EPR programs. The transcript also included AB 1757, which would create a limited carve-out from California’s nuclear moratorium for microreactors; supporters said it could provide clean, local power and support data centers, while opponents warned of cost, waste, and safety risks. The committee ultimately rejected AB 1757 on a divided vote, then granted reconsideration, and the discussion continued without a final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 179 has to do with the Nuclear Energy Development Authority that we established last year
• , and the purpose of this authority is to promote the development of nuclear energy and an ecosystem
• This bill establishes the nuclear energy development grant program within NEITA.
• <00:04:32.680><c> energy</c><00:04:33.240><c> Development</c><00:04:33.800><c> Authority</c> nuclear
• This bill establishes the nuclear energy development grant program within NEITA.

Summary: The committee opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the minutes. After no special guests were recognized, members took up a joint resolution carried by Senator Nemes for Senator Adams concerning reformulated gasoline requirements in Jefferson County and parts of Oldham and Bullitt counties. The resolution would direct the Energy and Environmental Cabinet to revise the state air quality implementation plan to remove the reformulated gas mandate. Senator Nemes argued the requirement is outdated and has little practical effect given modern vehicles and fuel standards, and members voted to pass the resolution unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Bill 179 from Senator Danny Carroll, which would create a nuclear energy development grant program within the Nuclear Energy Development Authority. Carroll explained that the bill would set aside $10 million from the previously appropriated $40 million investment for grants supporting nuclear energy development in Kentucky, with grants capped at $2 million and administered entirely by NEITA rather than through Economic Development. He and several members emphasized the need for Kentucky to invest in nuclear energy to keep pace with states like Tennessee, which was cited as having invested heavily and attracting business activity around small modular reactors. Members expressed strong support for the bill, with Senator West and others praising the initiative and calling it important for Kentucky’s energy future. The committee voted the bill out favorably with an expression that it shall pass. Before adjournment, the chair encouraged members to review the other energy bills that had been heard recently and stressed the importance of moving quickly on energy policy measures. A motion was then requested to close the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I have case nuclear uh facilities.
• </c> funding and oversight of nuclear funding and oversight of nuclear incentive<00:58:01.119><c> programs
• </c> this one specifically picks up nuclear. this one specifically picks up nuclear.
• </c> have gotten together with a nuclear have gotten together with a nuclear incentive<01:02:32.079><
• </c> excited about the potential of nuclear excited about the potential of nuclear and<01:02:46.079><

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is the Nuclear Energy Office within the governor's office.
• Members, this is the nuclear energy office within the governor's office.
• chain or nuclear technology in the state of Texas.
• This does mirror, I believe, what is happening... ...with nuclear technology.
• I'm trying to understand... ...for which nuclear technology can be brought on.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up a long list of House bills as pending business, voting to report many of them favorably to the full Senate. Bills reported favorably included HB 705, 1094, 2037, 3005, 3112, 3320, 3388, 3516, 3923, 4134, 4214, 4233, 4350, 4559, 4748, 4765, 5093, 5129, and 5196, with several also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Some measures were reported with committee substitutes, including HB 3516, HB 3848, HB 4211, and HB 14. HB 2488 and HB 3320 had some dissenting votes, while most other bills were approved unanimously or near-unanimously. The committee spent the most time on HB 14, which Senator Schwertner explained would create the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office in the governor’s office and the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund. The substitute would appropriate $350 million this biennium for reimbursement-based grants to support nuclear generation, supply chain development, pre-construction work, and construction-stage costs, with approval from the lieutenant governor, speaker, and governor. Senators Menendez and Nichols asked clarifying questions about whether the program involved grants rather than loans, how reimbursable grants would work, and who would evaluate applications; Schwertner said the program was modeled on the Enterprise Fund and that the grants would not be loans. After the committee had recessed, Senator Zaffirini asked to change her no votes on HB 4211 and HB 4233 to ayes so those bills could be placed on the local and uncontested calendar, while still registering no votes there. Senator Kolkhorst similarly asked to change her vote on HB 2488 to an aye for calendar purposes, while preserving her no vote. The committee then recessed again after completing its actions on the bills before it.

Transcript Highlights:

• power for the nuclear modular reactor... ...for the modular nuclear reactor units.
• My name is Rita Barrenwall, and I am the chief nuclear officer at Radiant Nuclear.
• Nuclear energy is safe. Nuclear energy is safe, reliable, and clean.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• I've dealt with fusion, quantum, AI, and I commend you for nuclear, micro-nuclear, because it is our

Committee: House Natural Resources