Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: To Executive 3 R cosponsors

SB 125 — Relating to: a nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE)

Last action — Published 7-3-2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced March 14, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 21 sponsors

    1 primary, 20 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

An Act to renumber 196.491 (3) (g); to create 20.155 (1) (a), 196.025 (8) and 196.491 (3) (g) 2. of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

92 added · 31 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Senate Bill 125 introduced several key changes. Notably, it expanded the scope of the nuclear power siting study to include both advanced nuclear reactors and fusion energy, as well as examining the approval processes for small modular reactors. This matters because it aims to modernize and potentially speed up the energy development process in the state, making it more adaptable to emerging technologies in nuclear energy. Additionally, the timeline for the Public Service Commission to finalize its evaluations and potential permits has been modified, reflecting an effort to improve efficiency in energy project approvals.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0129/1 KP:wlj SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 125 April 28, 2025 - Offered by SenaRADLEY.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-2180/1 KP:emw SENATE BILL 125 March 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senators B RADLEY, FEYEN and W ANGGAARD , cosponsored by Representatives S ORTWELL , STEFFEN , W ITTKE, CALLAHAN , D ITTRICH, REEN , GUSTAFSON , KNODL , MOSES, MURPHY , MURSAU , O'ONNOR , SNYDER , SPIROS, SUBECK , TUSLER, ZIMMERMAN and W ICHGERS .
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Utilities and Tourism.
A N A CT to renumber 196.491 (3) (g);
to create 20.155 (1) (a), 196.025 (8) and 196.491 (3) (g) 2.
of the statutes;
relating to:
a nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study and to submit a report to the legislature containing the results of the study no later than 12 months after the bill takes effect.
The study must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill.
The bill also requires PSC to take final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for a large electric generating facility that contains an advanced nuclear reactor within 150 days after the application is complete, unless the chairperson of PSC extends the time period for no more than an additional 150 days for good cause.
Under current law, a person seeking to construct a large electric generating facility must obtain a CPCN from PSC.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-2180/1 KP:emw SENATE BILL 125 SECTION 1 The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
S ECTION 1.
20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes:
at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2025-26 2026-27 20.155 Public service commission (1) R EGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES (a) Nuclear power siting study GPR C -0- -0- S ECTION 2.
20.155 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
20.155 (1) (a) Nuclear power siting study.
As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for conducting the nuclear power siting study under s.
196.025 (8) (b).
S ECTION 3.
196.025 (8) of the statutes is created to read:
196.025 (8) UCLEAR POWER SITING STUDY.
(a) Definition.
In this subsection, “advanced nuclear reactor” has the meaning given in 42 USC 16271 (b) (1).
(b) Nuclear power siting study.
Page 1, line 2:
The commission shall conduct a nuclear power siting study that does all of the following:
delete the material beginning with XandY and ending with XapplicationsY on line 4.
a.
2.
Identifies nuclear power generation opportunities on existing nuclear and nonnuclear power generation sites.
Page 2, line 1:
b.
delete lines 1 to 10.
Identifies new nuclear power and fusion energy generation sites not currently dedicated to power generation.
c.
Identifies sites for the development and demonstration of nuclear power generation and advanced technologies derived from and associated with nuclear fission and fusion, including advanced nuclear reactors.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-2180/1 KP:emw SENATE BILL 125 SECTION 3 d.
Develops and provides guidance for advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors including small modular reactors and fusion energy generating technologies.
e.
Considers the siting study conducted by the U.S.
department of energy in 2024, titled “Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant and Coal Power Plant Sites for New Nuclear Capacity.” 2.
The commission may use a request-for-proposal process to contract with a 3rd party to conduct all or part of the study required under subd.
Show all 69 changed rows (29 more)
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Latest
1.
Page 2, line 16:
On or before the first day of 13th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision ....
after XpowerY insert Xand fusion energyY.
[LRB inserts date], the commission shall submit a report containing the results of the study required under subd.
4.
1.
Page 2, line 20:
to the legislature in the manner provided in s.
after XpowerY insert Xand fusion energyY.
13.172 (2).
5.
S ECTION 4.
Page 3, line 6:
196.491 (3) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 196.491 (3) (g) 1.
after that line insert:
S ECTION 5.
Xf.
196.491 (3) (g) 2.
Reviews the approval and permitting processes for small modular reactor projects currently under development to gain understanding of potential approval timelines for such projects.
of the statutes is created to read:
g.
196.491 (3) (g) 2.
Engages with the federal nuclear regulatory commission to gain insight - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBa0129/1 KP:wlj into small modular reactor approval processes and specific opportunities for streamlining the federal and state approval processes for small modular reactors.Y.
Notwithstanding subd.
6.
1., the commission shall take final action on an application filed under par.
Page 3, line 9:
(a) 1.
delete X13thY and substitute X19thY.
for a large electric generating facility that contains an advanced nuclear reactor, as defined in s.
7.
196.025 (8) (a), within 150 days after the application is determined or considered to be complete under par.
Page 3, line 12:
(a) 2.
after Xs.
If the commission fails to take final action within the 150-day period, the commission is considered to have issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity with respect to the application, unless the chairperson of the commission extends the time period for no more than an additional 150 days for good cause.
13.172 (2).Y insert XIn the report submitted under this subdivision, the commission shall discuss and assess methods of streamlining the process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity under s.
If the commission fails to take action within the extended period, the commission is - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-2180/1 KP:emw SENATE BILL 125 SECTION 5 considered to have issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity with respect to the application.
196.491 (3) for large electric generating facilities that contain an advanced nuclear reactor.Y.
S ECTION 6.
8.
Initial applicability.
Page 3, line 13:
(1) The treatment of s.
delete the material beginning with that line and ending with page 4, line 9.
196.491 (3) (g) 2.
(END )
first applies to an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity that is determined or considered by the public service commission to be complete on the effective date of this subsection.
S ECTION 7.
Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
(END)
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Action History

  1. Published 7-3-2025

  2. Report approved by the Governor on 7-2-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 12

  3. Presented to the Governor on 6-26-2025 by directive of the Majority Leader

  4. Attempted to present to the Governor on 6-25-2025, pursuant to Senate Rule 44m (2)

  5. Report correctly enrolled

  6. Received from Assembly concurred in

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Read a third time and concurred in

  9. Rules suspended

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Read a second time

  12. Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up

  13. Representative Stubbs added as a cosponsor

  14. Withdrawn from Committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 6-24-2025

  15. Representative Penterman added as a cosponsor

  16. Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  17. Received from Senate

  18. Ordered immediately messaged

  19. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 28, Noes 5

  20. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  21. Ordered to a third reading

  22. Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and taken up

  23. Referred to joint committee on Finance

  24. Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate, Ayes 18, Noes 15

  25. Point of order that Senate Substitute Amendment 1 was not germane well taken

  26. Senate Amendment 1 adopted

  27. Read a second time

  28. Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Larson, Carpenter, Roys, Drake, Dassler-Alfheim, Habush Sinykin, Smith and Spreitzer

  29. Placed on calendar 5-15-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  30. Senator Stafsholt added as a coauthor

  31. Available for scheduling

  32. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Utilities and Tourism, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  33. Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Utilities and Tourism, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  34. Executive action taken

  35. Public hearing held

  36. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Bradley

  37. Senator Hutton added as a coauthor

  38. Fiscal estimate received

  39. Read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities and Tourism

  40. Introduced by Senators Bradley, Feyen and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Sortwell, Steffen, Wittke, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, Gustafson, Knodl, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Snyder, Spiros, Subeck, Tusler, Zimmerman and Wichgers

Sponsors

  • Julian Bradley · Primary
  • Steffen · Cosponsor
  • Wittke · Cosponsor
  • Callahan · Cosponsor
  • Dittrich · Cosponsor
  • Green · Cosponsor
  • Gustafson · Cosponsor
  • Knodl · Cosponsor
  • Moses · Cosponsor
  • Murphy · Cosponsor
  • Mursau · Cosponsor
  • O'Connor · Cosponsor
  • Snyder · Cosponsor
  • Spiros · Cosponsor
  • Subeck · Cosponsor
  • Tusler · Cosponsor
  • Zimmerman · Cosponsor
  • Wichgers · Cosponsor
  • Dan Feyen · Cosponsor
  • Van Wanggaard · Cosponsor
  • Sortwell · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 20 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (20)

  • Steffen
  • Wittke
  • Callahan
  • Dittrich
  • Green
  • Gustafson
  • Knodl
  • Moses
  • Murphy
  • Mursau
  • O'Connor
  • Snyder
  • Spiros
  • Subeck
  • Tusler
  • Zimmerman
  • Wichgers
  • Feyen, Dan Republican
  • Wanggaard, Van Republican
  • Sortwell

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 111 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Decision of the Chair stands as the judgment of the Senate

Passed 18 Yea · 15 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 18000
Democrat 01200
Unaffiliated 0300
Total 181500
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (33)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Nay
DASSLER-ALFHEI — Nay
HABUSH SINYKIN — Nay
Carpenter, Tim Democrat Nay
Drake, Dora Democrat Nay
Hesselbein, Dianne Democrat Nay
Keyeski, Sarah Democrat Nay
Larson, Chris Democrat Nay
Pfaff, Brad Democrat Nay
Ratcliff, Melissa Democrat Nay
Roys, Kelda Democrat Nay
Smith, Jeff Democrat Nay
Spreitzer, Mark Democrat Nay
Wall, Jamie Democrat Nay
Wirch, Robert Democrat Nay
Bradley, Julian Republican Yea
Cabral-Guevara, Rachael Republican Yea
Felzkowski, Mary Republican Yea
Feyen, Dan Republican Yea
Hutton, Rob Republican Yea
Jacque, André Republican Yea
Jagler, John Republican Yea
James, Jesse Republican Yea
Kapenga, Chris Republican Yea
LeMahieu, Devin Republican Yea
Marklein, Howard Republican Yea
Nass, Steve Republican Yea
Quinn, Romaine Republican Yea
Stafsholt, Rob Republican Yea
Testin, Patrick Republican Yea
Tomczyk, Cory Republican Yea
Wanggaard, Van Republican Yea
Wimberger, Eric Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 125 do?
An Act to renumber 196.491 (3) (g); to create 20.155 (1) (a), 196.025 (8) and 196.491 (3) (g) 2. of the statutes;
Who sponsors SB 125?
SB 125 is sponsored by Bradley, Julian (Republican), Steffen, Wittke, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, Gustafson, Knodl, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Snyder, Spiros, Subeck, Tusler, Zimmerman, Wichgers, Feyen, Dan (Republican), Wanggaard, Van (Republican), and Sortwell.
What is the current status of SB 125?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced March 14, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 125?
Track SB 125 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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