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House passes measure to create state office to accelerate advanced nuclear projects
Summary
The Texas House passed House Bill 14 to establish a Texas Nuclear Deployment Office and a tiered grant program to speed commercial deployment of advanced nuclear reactors; lawmakers debated waste storage, grants to private companies and whether state grants should require grid delivery.
The Texas House on April 22 passed House Bill 14, which creates a Texas Nuclear Deployment Office inside the governor's office and establishes a tiered funding program intended to speed deployment of advanced nuclear reactors across the state.
Supporters said the bill will help Texas attract private investment and build long‑duration, reliable power. Representative Harris, the bill's author, said the office will coordinate permitting assistance, provide a tiered grant program to incentivize projects, and direct the Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop training programs to build a workforce for advanced nuclear technologies.
The measure drew questions on nuclear waste handling, siting authority, grant size and whether state money should require project power be delivered to the grid. Representative Bryant and Representative Tenderholt asked whether reactor sites and fuel storage decisions would be controlled by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Harris replied the NRC retains permitting authority and the bill does not create new state siting power. Harris also said some advanced reactor designs would use previously irradiated fuel and could significantly reduce stored waste.
Representative Lindsay (questioners recorded on the floor as members) pressed on the bill's funding mechanics: Harris confirmed a Tier 2 grant may reach up to $200,000,000 and said the grants are structured as reimbursements with clawback provisions tied to milestones; he said the grants are not loans. Tenderholt and others argued the program could create private uses of state‑funded generation; Harris said Tier 1 and 2 recipients are not required to deliver generated electrons to ERCOT, but tier 3 completion bonuses require delivery to the grid.
Representative Zwener offered and the House adopted an amendment that added award criteria including water impacts and elected‑official support. A recorded vote on that amendment showed 125 ayes and 21 nays.
Opponents warned the bill creates a new state office and risks using constitutionally dedicated funds off‑budget. Representative Harrison characterized the proposal as “crony corporatism” and said fiscal notes understate long‑term costs; Harris answered that the bill is designed to attract private capital and that grants would be clawed back if milestones are missed.
The House approved HB 14 on final floor action and sent it forward (final recorded roll call for passage was not specified in the transcript excerpt).
