Transcript Highlights:

• energy and nuclear opportunity, including we're excited about the opportunity for there to be small
• site nuclear as we move forward, and the Trump administration is actually making a lot of changes on
• </c><01:35:46.800><c> power</c> the political divide that nuclear power the political divide that nuclear
• </c> nuclear energy and nuclear opportunity nuclear energy and nuclear opportunity uh<01:35:56.960><c
• </c> relative to trying to stimulate nuclear relative to trying to stimulate nuclear energy<01:36:10.719

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, if you are at all interested in nuclear technology or you're a member of the Nuclear Caucus,
• Today I rise to recognize Texas Net Nuclear Legislation. day on April 10th, 2025.
• to highlight the importance of nuclear power in Texas.
• nuclear power needs. needs.
• Capitol, and if you're here in the gallery today for Texas Nuclear Day, please... stand.

Bills: SB1 , HB500 , SB1 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• This ratification is for the nuclear planning and response program, which was moved in July 2025 to the
• During the transition, the department continued to perform nuclear testing, but it should have been under
• This is a new contract for radiation testing and analysis at Nuclear 1.
• This is a new contract for radiation testing and analysis at Nuclear 1.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.

Transcript Highlights:

• someday on our grid that we can nuclear someday on our grid that we can use<01:13:21.679><c> that</c
• and Prairie Island and storing casks of nuclear waste and all of that.
• and um Prairie Island and nuclear and um Prairie Island and storing<01:17:40.159><c> casks</c><01:17
• :40.880><c> u</c><01:17:41.040><c> of</c><01:17:41.199><c> nuclear</c><01:17:41.600><c> waste</c><01:
• 17:41.840><c> and</c><01:17:42.080><c> all</c> storing casks u of nuclear waste and all storing casks

Bills: HF2986 , HF3555

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• who will be speaking on a federal Department of Energy request for information exploring regional nuclear
• sending out a flyer, and we hope that you or your staff members can come join and learn about the nuclear
• who will be speaking on a federal Department of Energy request for information exploring regional nuclear
• sending out a flyer, and we hope that you or your staff members can come join and learn about the nuclear
• uh lunch and learn about the nuclear uh lunch and learn program. program. program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The example of that would be the nuclear power plant in Callaway.
• ...and as the country's focus returns to dependable baseload energy sources such as nuclear.
• How much does it cost to produce solar energy by the kilowatt hour as compared to like coal or nuclear
• And to get us to that point, what can we do that's low cost, because nuclear certainly isn't, but low
• Then next would be natural gas at 77 to 130, nuclear at 141 to 221 per megawatt, and coal is 68 to 168

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• the right approach and maybe we can have some kind of a hybrid with this with that and maybe allow nuclear
• I don't know what's maybe allow nuclear.
• You know, I'm supported our nucle the nuclear bill that votes head, and we'll see what happens to it.
• bill that votes head and we'll nuclear bill that votes head and we'll see<00:17:34.080><c> what</c><
• Um, we also know that small modular nuclear is 10 years out.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> changes to the state's nuclear changes to the state's nuclear moratorum.<01:14:14.800><c> It</c>
• Once again, there is nothing for nuclear energy here.
• Despite nothing for nuclear energy here.
• </c><01:25:47.639><c> moratorum,</c> body want to lift the nuclear moratorum, body want to lift the nuclear
• Uh, although I do know the Senator from Mankato... explore nuclear energy, not to even explore nuclear

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked about a lot of other great things; nuclear energy has turned into a really vibrant and strong
• to work with the Prairie Island Indian Community as well as the stakeholders of Minnesota to bring nuclear
• But it would be nice, because I thought we were at the point of consensus on nuclear energy.
• Yes, nuclear energy is expensive, but if we want to move to clean baseload power, if we want a hundred
• percent mandate that doesn't result in mass death, we're going to need significant nuclear power.

Transcript Highlights:

• persistent threats to our interests, such as those posed by Russia, Iran's potential to develop a nuclear
• One of my priorities is going to be modernizing the nuclear enterprise, and of course the B-21 is an
• We need them to make hard decisions about the nuclear modernization efforts that we have underway, and
• particularly your position, is going to be responsible for two-thirds of the modernization of the the nuclear
• the Sentinel program, concern over the Nunn-McCurdy breach that's experienced, modernization of the nuclear

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Department of Defense, nominations, Matthew Lohmeyer, Justin Overbaugh, global security, military readiness, NATO, Russia, China, defense infrastructure

Summary: The meeting was primarily focused on discussing nominations for key positions within the Department of Defense, specifically for roles such as the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Senators expressed urgent concerns about global security threats, the need for robust military readiness, and the emphasis on effective collaboration with NATO allies amidst rising tensions with adversaries such as Russia and China. Several senators highlighted the challenges facing military infrastructure and defense capabilities, suggesting a critical need for improvements and investment in these areas to ensure national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, towards the end of World War II and into the Cold War era, uranium mining and nuclear development
• The Navajo Nation has struggled for many decades, over 80 years, from the legacy of the past nuclear
• This is what we're facing: the waste comes from nuclear energy and defense industries.
• We're working on legislation to ban the storage of high-level nuclear waste in the state.
• It has become increasingly apparent that the human and total impact of the nuclear industry, from the

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• , but I can say for myself, I would feel fine with a nuclear plant in my community.
• And they claim that the advancements in nuclear technology are primarily in safety features.
• Senator Patton and I and others stood within 20 feet of nuclear fuel rods safely.
• A nuclear facility is a quiet operation.
• A nuclear facility is a quiet operation.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please, I just want to let everybody know, please join us for our monthly legislative nuclear caucus.
• We're going to talk about exploring Colorado's pivotal role in the DOE, Nuclear Lifestyle Innovation
• </c><00:21:29.840><c> Um,</c> monthly legislative nuclear caucus.
• Um, monthly legislative nuclear caucus.
• </c><00:21:34.400><c> Lifestyle</c> role in the DOE, Nuclear Lifestyle role in the DOE, Nuclear Lifestyle

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you support nuclear? Do y'all support? Nuclear?
• There's no way we're going to meet the demand in the coming five years from nuclear.
• Yeah, but do y'all support nuclear, just yes or no?
• Nuclear... and then one more question.
• It can be that nuclear, which is expensive, but very dependable.

Bills: SB458 , SB819 , SB1238 , SB1642 , SB1643 , SB1644 , SB1791 , SB1810 , SB1824 , SB1825 , SB758 , SB1455 , SB1706

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> proposal to include advanced nuclear proposal to include advanced nuclear technologies<01:48:04.560
• </c><01:53:27.360><c> plant</c> contracts with Milstone nuclear plant contracts with Milstone nuclear
• </c><01:53:54.719><c> was</c> nuclear power purchase agreement was nuclear power purchase agreement was
• I'm also very concerned too that Massachusetts, which has now included nuclear energy in its renewable
• I'm also very concerned too that Massachusetts, which has now included nuclear energy in its renewable

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, item four, the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor, Texas Nuclear Energy Fund.
• Energy Supply Chain Fund, the Texas Advanced Nuclear a report for the upcoming legislative session as

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• This ratification is for the nuclear planning and response program, which was moved in July 2025 to the
• During the transition, the department continued to perform nuclear testing, but it should have been under
• This is a new contract for radiation testing and analysis at Nuclear One.
• I've seen an analysis at Nuclear One.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would just say, you know, my background coming from the nuclear industry, that's really how we
• Coming from the nuclear industry, that's really how we function there.
• The better you performed as a facility, a nuclear power plant, the less oversight and direction you had
• You had to go up and bring up the nuclear scientist part, right?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I also think we’re still looking at a big nuclear facility too in the state, another Palo Verde-type
• Um, I also think, you know, we're still looking at a big nuclear facility too's in the state, another
• ’s appropriate to single out one or two specific uses in this bill—data centers and small modular nuclear
• else who has an interest in land use, and people seeking to construct data centers or small modular nuclear

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee heard a presentation from Steven Garrison of the Cicero Institute on how Arizona state government could use AI to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and streamline procurement. He argued AI should be treated as software, with agencies proactively identifying use cases, tracking outcomes, and avoiding unnecessary agency-level regulation or new bureaucratic structures. Members questioned him about workforce impacts, privacy, agency involvement, and the balance between innovation and guardrails; he said AI would likely augment workers in the short term and create new jobs over time, while legislative oversight should focus on specific harms and gaps in law rather than broad agency rules. The committee then considered HB 2592, which directs the Arizona Department of Administration to require budget units to identify AI opportunities, reduce administrative duties, streamline procurement, and establish AI governance, while also sending emergency or temporary AI rules to the legislature for approval. An amendment added reporting requirements to the governor, legislative leaders, and Secretary of State on efficiency measures and barriers encountered. After limited testimony, including support from Jeannie Magdua of Conservative Ladies of America, the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill as amended on a 4-2 vote, with one member absent. The final bill, HB 2452, would add data centers and small modular reactors to county comprehensive planning considerations and adjust county planning requirements for land use and energy-related development. Supporters, including Russell Smolden of the Arizona Municipal Power Users Association and Dave Morris of Americans for Prosperity Arizona, said the bill would improve long-term planning for data centers, energy infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The County Supervisors Association opposed it, arguing it improperly singled out specific uses, blurred comprehensive planning with zoning, and reduced local control. The committee passed HB 2452 on a 4-3 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• get some really good information from the EPIC Commission that helps us plan where we're going with nuclear
• get some really good information from the EPIC Commission that helps us plan where we're going with nuclear
• get some really good information from the EPIC Commission that helps us plan where we're going with nuclear
• get some really good information from the EPIC Commission that helps us plan where we're going with nuclear
• With nuclear, where we're going with fossil fuels in the state of Kentucky, and I think that person that's

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy