Senate adopts amendment on small modular reactor siting priorities as part of HB 2456

During Committee of the Whole consideration and subsequent floor action, the Senate adopted amendments to House Bill 2456, which addresses zoning and co‑location provisions for small modular reactors and related energy land‑use designations.

Senator Bullock explained the RAGE committee amendment and a Carol/Carroll floor amendment that was offered and adopted to the RAGE amendment. The Carroll floor amendment requires that an applicant for a certificate of environmental compatibility for a nuclear generating unit must make an effort to prioritize siting and development at a location that is located in or near a ‘nuclear‑ready community.’ If an applicant proposes a site not located in or near such a community, the amendment requires the application to describe each nuclear‑ready community the applicant considered and to explain why the applicant did not select those sites.

The chamber adopted the amendment as amended and the committee reported HB 2456 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation. Senator Bullock moved, and members voted to adopt the RAGE amendment as amended. The amendment’s language centers on application requirements and siting prioritization for future nuclear generating units; it does not itself license construction but modifies planning and application disclosures required under the certificate of environmental compatibility process.

Senators offering on‑the‑floor comments raised planning, energy‑resource, and environmental concerns; at least one senator expressed opposition on policy grounds during later third‑reading debate when the bill returned to final reading. The bill as amended was advanced by the Senate and the secretary was instructed to transmit the action as required.

Next steps include House consideration of the Senate amendments or a conference committee if the House returns different language.