Video & Transcript Research : 'small modular reactor'

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FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

February 5, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have small IT shops who are managing agency business, right?
  • Amendments 10 and 11, which had been executed recently, both added small amounts to the contract.
  • So when you look at the first four years, it was a small staff only on the state side, and then there
  • So when you look at the first four years, it was a small staff only on the state side, and then there
  • But really what this meant was that, various stages of re-procuring in this modular approach.
Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several major technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Department of Financial Services’ Florida PALM project, which is replacing the state’s decades-old FLAIR accounting system. DFS described PALM as a statewide effort affecting all three branches of government, with cash management already live and the remaining financial management, payroll, and data warehouse components still in development. Officials said the project began in 2014, was restructured after a 2022 legislative pause, and is now being recommended for a go-live delay from January 2026 to July 2026. Members asked about governance, staffing, contract structure, cost growth, and maintenance costs; DFS said the contract is deliverable-based, the current amendment would add a net $2.2 million, and post-go-live maintenance is expected to be about $13 million annually under the current contract through July 2027. The Agency for Health Care Administration then updated the committee on the FX Medicaid enterprise modernization program. AHCA explained that federal CMS directed states to move from monolithic Medicaid systems to a modular approach, leading Florida to procure separate vendors for integration services, data warehouse, unified operations, provider services, and claims processing, with pharmacy benefits still to be procured. Officials said the project has spent about $334 million to date, with most costs federally matched, and requested $189.95 million for the upcoming year. They also highlighted a 2024 special assessment that produced 81 recommendations, most tied to staffing shortages, and said the Legislature added 47 FTEs, with 17 currently filled or being filled. Members asked about governance changes, production status, data access, and future technology maintenance; AHCA said some components are operational, the data warehouse is nearing certification, and the agency is working to keep the system adaptable and nonproprietary. The Department of Children and Families presented its Access modernization project, which is replacing a mainframe-based eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid assistance, and related programs. DCF said the six-year, $205 million project is in its third year and has already delivered a new customer portal with mobile access, multi-factor authentication, and fraud protections, while also building a worker portal, document management, community partner tools, and workload management functions. The agency said it is requesting $36.625 million for the next fiscal year, the same as last year, and emphasized that the project has remained on schedule and on budget by breaking work into smaller modules and using strong vendor and staff support. Members praised the project’s progress and asked about cybersecurity testing and the long delay before modernization began; DCF said security requirements were built in from the outset and that the remaining work will focus on moving staff off the legacy mainframe and modernizing notices and back-end processes.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Have any of your people been looking at SMRs or the new technology as it pertains to small modular nuclear
  • reactors?
  • One other item to highlight: we did have a failure of a natural gas unit, the Reed CT, a very small
  • a natural gas unit, the Reed CT,<01:08:45.520> a<01:08:45.839> very<01:08:46.080> small
  • unit, 65 megawatts, CT, a very small unit, 65 megawatts, catastrophic<01:08:49.279> failure.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the previous meeting, and then heard a presentation from LG&E and KU representatives Caroline Clark and John Bevington on economic development, energy demand, and the utility’s role in supporting Kentucky’s growth. Bevington described the company’s service territory, generation fleet, and recent economic development activity, including 76 projects supported in 2024, more than $2.8 billion in private investment, and over 3,000 new jobs. He emphasized that data centers are now the dominant driver in the pipeline, with 22 data center projects representing about 8.7 of the 9.7 gigawatts of potential demand, alongside other manufacturing and commercial projects. A major focus was how data centers choose sites and how utilities respond. Bevington explained that hyperscale data centers typically approach utilities first because they need transmission-level access, and that utilities then conduct internal analyses, estimate infrastructure needs, and require financial security before proceeding. He said the company is working through formal transmission studies and long-lead infrastructure planning, and noted that Kentucky’s sales tax exemption for data centers helped attract interest. He also outlined the economic benefits of data centers, citing an announced Louisville project of 525 megawatts and about $11 billion in investment, with an estimated $500 million in new tax revenue over 10 years, plus broader job and GDP impacts. Members asked about whether data centers could generate their own power, the reliability of the pipeline numbers given confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, and cybersecurity concerns. Bevington said the company does not assume all pipeline projects will materialize in Kentucky and instead assigns probabilities to avoid overbuilding. He also said he was not the right person to address cybersecurity in detail but offered to return to a committee focused on IT or security. In response to questions about future supply, he said LG&E and KU are adding generation through a 120-megawatt solar facility in Mercer County, a 120-megawatt solar purchase in Marion County, and a 645-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle plant in Louisville, with PSC approval recently granted for additional generation and related system upgrades.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Taxes Committee considers HF2360 4/10/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • , CDEs, like Advantage Capital and about 300 others across the country that invest specifically in small
  • , CDEs, like Advantage Capital and about 300 others across the country that invest specifically in small
  • <00:02:48.720> businesses<00:02:49.280> in investing in small businesses in investing
  • Housing in North Street, George Modular Housing in North Minneapolis,<00:03:30.879> Red<00:03
  • to a state to make sure that the small to a state to make sure that the small businesses<00:04:04.000
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 2360, as amended by H.F. 2360A1, which would create a state-level New Markets Tax Credit-style program modeled on the federal program. Chair Swedzinski explained that the bill is intended to drive investment across Minnesota, including a requirement that at least 50% of the $200 million allocation be directed to greater Minnesota, and noted that the program would run for 12 months with state oversight to help guide investments. Testimony in support came from Alex Stuponic of Advantage Capital and Jason Wabama of Advanced Machine Guarding Solutions in Hibbing. Stuponic described the federal New Markets program as a tool for directing capital to low-income and underserved communities, cited Minnesota projects that have already benefited from federal funding, and argued that state programs in other states have successfully attracted more investment. Wabama said the credit could help rural businesses like his expand, noting that his Hibbing company has grown from one employee in 2021 to 22 employees and hopes to reach 50 employees while eventually becoming an ESOP. Chair Gomez raised concerns about the bill’s changes, especially the set-aside of half the funds for one region and the five-year carryforward, saying the proposal seemed arbitrary and more permissive and that there was likely not room in the budget for the $100 million cost this year. In response, Swedzinski said the fiscal note pushes costs into future years, with the first costs beginning in 2028-2029, and emphasized that the structure would allow the investment benefits to occur upfront. The amendment was adopted, and the bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Fri Mar 20, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • Just a small technical note.
  • too small.
  • are small purchases. are small purchases.
  • bidding for the small purchases because they're<01:31:44.440> too<01:31:44.680> small.
  • they're too small. they're too small.
Summary: The committee opened by reviewing hearing procedures and then took up SB 2580, which concerns Hawaii’s film production tax credit and related incentives. Testimony was strongly supportive overall, with witnesses saying the measure would help attract productions, extend the sunset date, include streaming platforms, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. Several supporters asked for cleanup language on grant administration, tax credit management, local-hire uplifts, and limits on third-party audit requirements for smaller productions. The state film office said the bill was generally strong but suggested clarifying language and noted that DBEDT and DOTAX already provide oversight of the current credit. No vote was taken in the transcript, but the bill drew broad support with a few comments and one opposition noted later in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2578 SD1, a measure to create a film commission and related grant structure. Testifiers said the proposal would formalize industry input, improve accountability, and help the state compete globally, but they also raised concerns about how a new grant program would interact with the existing tax credit system. The film office said the grant program and tax credit should be separated operationally, that the advisory structure should include industry voices and possibly union representation, and that county film commissioner language may need technical adjustment. A testifier also suggested a Hawaii film museum and related tourism opportunities. The measure was described as having 42 supporters, one opposition, and five comments, with no final action shown. The committee next considered SB 2259, a dementia training measure. Supporters, including the bill’s drafter and the Alzheimer’s Association, described personal caregiving experiences and said free dementia training could help workers and families. Suggested amendments focused on clarifying the relationship between EOA and DBED and allowing retraining every two years because of workforce turnover. DBED said the bill is worthwhile but is not really an economic development initiative, and it should align with existing dementia programs and be easy for businesses to use, preferably online. The committee then moved to SB 3084 SD1, which HTDC said would expand its R&D matching program beyond SBIR to other federal research grants because of uncertainty at the federal level; the transcript ends as testimony begins, with no vote or final action recorded.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Today, I continue to wait for my small claims court jury trial to be set for the lawsuit I filed one
  • Where do you see small businesses...?
  • We have provided $3.5 billion in funding to over 70,000 small businesses nationwide, and here in Texas
  • , we've provided over $400 million to 8,500 Texas small businesses.
  • We give them the chance that other financial institutions aren't willing to provide, and these small
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/27/2026 - House Commerce

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a big deal for small business. We often know when employees look for work. Thank you.
  • This is a big deal for small business. We often know when employees look for work. Thank you.
  • Small business.
  • As a small business owner, restaurants... Thank you for being here.
  • This is just one small start, and I appreciate your support. Thank you. Okay.
Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills. HB 2192, a child influencer bill, would require compensation for minors featured in monetized content to be placed in trust, allow takedown requests for content as minors become adults, and create remedies for sexualized depictions of minors. The sponsor and Google described it as a modern Coogan-trust style protection; some members raised concerns about the age-13 and age-18 provisions, but the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote with two present. HB 2501, an agency bill, conformed Arizona’s definition of appraisal management company to federal law and passed unanimously. HB 2693, which revises bona fide association rules to allow statewide chambers or business leagues to operate self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements, drew support from the Chamber and small-business advocates but opposition from a coalition citing possible federal preemption; it passed as amended on an 8-1 vote. HB 2010, the digital goods disclosure bill, required clearer notice that online “purchases” may be licenses, prorated refunds if access changes, and removed some penalty language in amendment; supporters said it would reduce consumer confusion, while retailers argued federal law already covers the issue. It passed as amended 11-0. The committee also approved HB 2279, which limits liability for Grand Canyon river outfitters for inherent risks of rafting while preserving claims for gross negligence or intentional acts, despite constitutional objections from opponents; it passed 7-4. HB 2690, which tightens unemployment insurance eligibility by adding work-search and fraud cross-check requirements, was opposed by advocates who said it would add red tape and burden eligible claimants, but it passed 7-4. HB 2310, clarifying that qualified marketplace contractor agreements may be terminated unilaterally by the contractor, passed 10-0. HB 2555, requiring retail businesses to accept cash for purchases of $100 or less and banning cash fees, passed as amended 9-1 after debate over consumer access and business flexibility. Finally, HB 2199, which expands required education for RV park managers and shifts some enforcement duties to the Department of Housing, passed as amended 7-0 with three present. The committee then considered HB 2459, which would let mobile home park landlords recover actual utility charges and add an administrative fee for submetering; supporters said it would address overcharges and improve transparency, while opponents warned it could increase costs and confusion. The transcript cuts off before the final action on HB 2459.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 14th, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • This small change could have a significant impact, offering flexibility where it's most needed and empowering
  • This does not only affect me, but also many small counties that are having a hard time getting board
  • The people we help work for small businesses and simply can't afford coverage.
  • lower our state's uninsured rate and improve access to care, especially for working families. and small
  • So here, we don't have a small county; we have a large county.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on County and Regional Government Apr 14th, 2025

S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas has long championed the value of small government, local control, and keeping federal outreach
  • Representatives, this bill would not solve any real problems, but it would deputize local law enforcement and small
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:45 am

Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, we have a small business office dedicated to working with local and small businesses.
  • To train New Mexico small businesses and enroll in that system.
  • And our small business office works very proactively with small businesses to help them enroll in the
  • Our staff is relatively small; I have about 70 technical staff members.
  • NNSA wants to build; it's a replacement for the Annual Core Research Reactor. research reactor, and
Keywords: 996, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 1/21/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • But in the case of moving ahead to the small modular plant maybe located in Northwest Minnesota or up
  • located<00:31:45.880> in small modular plant maybe located in small modular plant maybe located
  • He added that small modular technology is what they are primarily looking at and that they have been
  • <00:36:55.240> modular<00:36:55.920> technology Source um the small modular technology
  • <00:37:18.680> modular<00:37:19.359> new are talking the small modular new are talking
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The House Energy Finance and Policy Committee met to approve the January 16 minutes and then heard House File 9, which was referred to the Committee on Taxes after the committee’s action. The bill was presented as an energy policy measure aimed at reliability and affordability. It would expand hydroelectric power’s eligibility under the state’s energy standard, delay certain carbon-free compliance requirements for utilities that do not meet a retail rate benchmark, prohibit local permits to demolish fossil fuel plants under certain conditions, state support for carbon capture and sequestration without creating a state funding obligation, end the nuclear moratorium, and expand the sales tax exemption for residential natural gas and electricity used as primary heat year-round starting after June 30, 2026. The committee also took up and adopted the A1 author’s amendment, which clarified that the carbon capture language does not obligate state spending. The bill’s sponsor argued that Minnesota’s current energy policy is driving up costs and threatening reliability, especially during extreme cold, and said the bill would create “off-ramps” from existing mandates to protect ratepayers and businesses. He cited reliability concerns, MISO/NERC risk assessments, rising utility rates, and the need for an all-of-the-above energy approach, including hydro and nuclear. He also said the bill would reduce taxes by broadening the sales tax exemption for residential heating. Testimony was mixed but generally focused on reliability, affordability, and the role of nuclear power. The Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported the bill’s emphasis on keeping power reliable and affordable, with both saying Minnesota needs dispatchable, carbon-free resources and noting concerns about high electricity costs and future demand from data centers and AI. The Prairie Island Indian Community opposed lifting the nuclear moratorium without a viable waste solution, describing the long-term burden of spent nuclear fuel on its community and asking for more consultation. Xcel Energy said its nuclear plants have operated safely and reliably for decades, support low-cost and low-carbon power, and could be part of the state’s energy transition, but it emphasized the need for tribal participation and said decisions about retiring fossil plants should remain within the existing Public Utilities Commission resource planning process.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Public Service

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, in terms of numbers, again, the floodgates in our small world are quite narrow.
  • There are only two nuclear reactors in the Commonwealth.
  • These employees work daily with radioactive materials and operate a nuclear reactor research facility
  • I'll talk about the MWRA workers and contrast them with workers in a small rural community.
  • Again, this is drastically different from water and sewer work I may face in a small community.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of retirement classification and benefit bills affecting municipal and state employees. Much of the hearing focused on proposals to move various workers from Group 1 to Group 2 or Group 4, including municipal building officials (H. 2776), MassDOT highway workers (H. 2908/Sousa’s Law), DCF attorneys (H. 2771), probation officers, licensed electricians, drinking water operators (H. 3000/S. 1834), MWRA non-clerical workers (S. 1803), transitional parole officers (H. 2878), Plymouth BCI criminal investigator officers (H. 2975/S. 1863), Beverly fire alarm operators/public safety telecommunicators (S. 1876), Massport pipefitters and refrigeration technicians (H. 2788/S. 1829), and other public safety or hazardous-duty classifications. Witnesses generally argued that their work is physically dangerous, understaffed, or comparable to already higher-classified employees, and several said the changes would help recruitment and retention with little fiscal impact because the affected groups are small. The committee also heard testimony on H. 4508, a home rule petition to grant a disability pension to Boston principal Patricia Lampron. Supporters, including Representative Dan Hunt, Boston city councilors, and Lampron herself, described a severe 2021 assault at the Henderson Inclusion School that left her with lasting physical and psychological injuries and forced her into early retirement. They urged the committee to advance the bill quickly. One witness, Pamela McLaughlin, testified in opposition, arguing the bill would set the wrong precedent and describing alleged prior misconduct by Lampron, and asked that the bill be sent to study. Several witnesses and committee members asked brief questions, mainly about the scope of the bills, whether certain workers were already in higher groups, and the fiscal or precedent concerns. No votes were taken during the hearing. At the end, the chairs announced that testimony was complete, asked whether anyone else wished to speak, and then the committee voted to adjourn.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House energy panel OK's bill to lift MN's moratorium on new nuclear power plants 1/21/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • located<00:30:49.320> in small modular plant maybe located in small modular plant maybe located
  • > Evans<00:31:02.720> uh about a small modular system Mr Evans uh about a small modular system
  • > what the small modular technology is what the small modular technology is what we're<00:36:00.920
  • <00:36:22.119> modular<00:36:22.839> new we are talking the small modular new we are
  • talking the small modular new technology<00:36:24.760> uh<00:36:24.960> and<00:36:25.359
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: House File 9 was heard as a proposal to alter Minnesota energy policy by creating exemptions and “off-ramps” from the state’s 2023 clean energy requirements. The bill would expand hydroelectric power’s eligibility, end the moratorium on new nuclear plants, delay certain carbon-free energy compliance requirements for utilities that do not meet a retail rate benchmark, restrict demolition of fossil fuel plants under that same benchmark, support carbon capture and sequestration, and expand the sales tax exemption for residential natural gas and electricity used as primary heat year-round. The author moved the A1 amendment, which clarified that the carbon capture policy language does not create a state funding obligation; the committee took up the amendment with no discussion and proceeded to a vote, though the result was not stated in the transcript. The bill was then referred to the Committee on Taxes. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to improve reliability and affordability, especially during extreme cold, and said current mandates are forcing coal retirements faster than replacement generation can be built. They cited MISO and NERC reliability concerns, Xcel’s proposed rate increases, and the need for an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that includes nuclear and hydro. Supporters also said the bill would help keep energy costs down for families and businesses and would allow Minnesota to use existing generation assets longer if rate targets are not met. Testimony from the Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supported the bill’s emphasis on reliability, affordability, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, and carbon capture. The Chamber said Minnesota’s electricity costs have become less competitive for businesses and argued that stable, affordable power is essential for economic growth and future technologies such as AI. The Minnesota Utility Investors also supported allowing new nuclear and all hydro power to be considered. In contrast, the Prairie Island Indian Community opposed lifting the nuclear moratorium without a viable long-term waste solution, describing its long history living near the Prairie Island nuclear plant and spent fuel storage and urging continued consultation on the issue. Xcel Energy said it supports low rates and sees nuclear as one option, but emphasized that any support for lifting the moratorium depends on full participation by the Prairie Island Indian Community and that decisions about retiring fossil plants should remain within the existing Public Utilities Commission resource planning process.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (01/14/2025)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • dams on the Sagan River um a very small dams on the Sagan River um a very small project<02:07:50.840
  • > still KW that's pretty small but they still KW that's pretty small but they still have<02:39
  • It's possible that somebody could propose small nuclear reactors.
  • um<04:27:46.319> the uh small uh nuclear reactors um the uh small uh nuclear reactors
  • :27:48.840> probably<04:27:49.520> um modular resource they're not probably um modular
Keywords: 1189, house, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Appropriations Committee, January 8, 2026 - PM

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're a pretty small team at the WA.
  • We're eight people, which is very small compared to other energy-producing states, the major energy-producing
  • That fabrication piece is what reactor.
  • It's like I'm explaining one small tidbit that came from a conversation yesterday with my brother-in-law
  • It's like I'm explaining one small tidbit that came from a conversation yesterday with my brother-in-law
Keywords: 916, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House passes HF2442, the omnibus climate and energy finance bill 5/7/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Minnesota is not, we're not deciding here to be a leader with the small modular nuclear.
  • modular units that shut down we'd be able to put in those modular nuclear and have localized power,
  • <00:20:23.679> modular leader with the small modular leader with the small modular nuclear
  • uh the power grid with all of the small uh the power grid with all of the small MUN<00:20:58.480
  • <00:38:01.760> businesses then turn these small businesses then turn these small businesses
Keywords: 1183, house