Representative Jack Lademan, chairing a session of the Joint Energy Committee, asked the panel to authorize the Bureau of Legislative Research (BLR) to negotiate a contract with Excel Services Corporation to perform the technical feasibility study required by Act 707 of 2025.

The study, Lademan said, is intended to “create a technical feasibility study on new nuclear energy” and keep the state “up with other states” considering advanced nuclear technologies. He described the Act’s qualifications for a consultant — including nuclear-industry experience, reactor licensing expertise, an Arkansas-licensed attorney on staff and a statutory preference for firms substantially owned or managed by U.S. Navy nuclear veterans.

The committee heard from Jill Thayer of BLR, who described the procurement steps if members approved. Thayer said BLR would request a draft contract from the firm, include a scope of work aligned with Act 707, specify the maximum contract amount and the term, and then bring the draft back to the committee for review. BLR’s draft then would go to the ALC executive subcommittee and Legislative Council before the bureau’s director could sign.

Multiple members pressed for clarity on procurement and cost. Senator McKee and others asked whether the Department of Energy and Environment (the department named in the act) would still fund the study; Lademan said the committee would use Legislative Council discretionary funds since the department had not been allocated funding in the statute. Lademan said the committee had an estimate of about $380,000 for the consultant, and that Excel Services matched the qualifications listed in the act.

Several members sought confirmation that other firms had been considered and whether sole-source procurement could be justified. Representative Beck asked whether other firms had been reviewed; Lademan said other firms had been considered but argued the mix of statute requirements — Navy nuclear veterans, Arkansas‑licensed attorney familiar with nuclear regulatory and Arkansas law, and licensing experience — narrowed the pool. Several members noted a formal sole-source justification and council review would be required in the Legislative Council approval process.

Lademan moved that BLR “move forward with negotiating a contract with Excel Services Corporation for the purposes of conducting a technical feasibility study that meets the requirements of Act 707 of 2025” and that the draft contract be returned to the committee. Representative McGrew seconded the motion. The committee voted in favor; members said “aye.”

Votes at a glance
- Motion to authorize BLR to negotiate draft contract with Excel Services Corporation (mover: Representative Jack Lademan; seconder: Representative McGrew): approved.
- Motion to allow committee co-chairs to approve committee special expense expenditures (mover: Senator McKee; seconder: Representative Beck): approved (housekeeping motion earlier in the meeting).
- Motion to approve minutes of the Oct. 22, 2024 meeting (mover: Senator McGee; seconder: Representative Beck): approved (housekeeping).

Why it matters: Act 707 requires a technical feasibility study before the state advances new nuclear-generation projects. Committee members said they wanted to move promptly because other states and the federal government are active in the advanced nuclear space; opponents urged careful procurement steps and documentation for any sole-source choice.

What happens next: BLR will request a draft contract from Excel Services, return the draft to the Joint Energy Committee for review, then the contract will proceed to the ALC executive subcommittee and Legislative Council for final approval before execution.