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Senate committee approves study bill to explore small modular nuclear reactors
Summary
Sen. Matt McKee’s study bill to evaluate small modular reactor technology and potential siting options cleared the Insurance & Commerce Committee on a unanimous voice vote. Sponsors said the measure is an early step to understand technical and policy implications for Arkansas energy planning.
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass House Bill 15‑72, a study bill to evaluate small modular reactor (SMR) technology and siting considerations in Arkansas.
Sen. Matt McKee, the bill sponsor, told committee members the measure "is basically just the first step in moving forward" with research into SMRs and the changing energy mix. "While we probably don't want to be a first adopter, we do want to be early adopters," McKee said, describing the bill as a way to gather information and prepare state policymakers for future decisions.
Committee members sought clarity about whether the bill prioritized any particular site. McKee said the measure does not direct study toward Fort Smith or any single location and instead is intended to identify the best potential locations across the state. After brief questions, the committee approved the bill by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and a unanimous voice response to move the bill forward.
Ending note: The bill passed as a study authorization intended to inform later policy choices; committee members indicated limited debate and unanimous support during the hearing.
