HB 1461 — Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb1461-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 1461 2026 commission shall consult with the University of Florida's Nuclear Fuels and Materials Characterization Facility, or its successor facility at the University of Florida supporting research in nuclear materials science.

(d) The commission, the Department of Health, and the DepartmentPage of4 Environmental Protection shall jointly establish criteria for the certification of laboratories14 thatCODING: perform analysis on nuclear materials for the purpose of researching, designing, testing, or otherwise developing technology for nuclear power plants under this section.

(4) A person, corporation, or entity may possess nuclear materials for, and in quantities sufficient to facilitate, the Page 5 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 research,Department design,of testing,Environmental construction,Protection andshall operationjointly establish criteria for the certification of advancedlaboratories that perform analysis on nuclear reactors.materials for the purpose of researching, designing, testing, or otherwise developing technology for nuclear power plants under this section.

(3) A person, corporation, or entity may possess nuclear materials for, and in quantities sufficient to facilitate, the research, design, testing, construction, and operation of advanced nuclear reactors.

(5)(a)(4)(a) The operator of a facility conducting research and testing of advanced nuclear reactors must obtain a permit from the commission for the use and storage of nuclear materials to facilitate such research and testing.

(c) Before issuing a permit under this subsection, the commission must determine that the facility or reactor is equipped with radiation control devices that will abate or prevent radiological contamination in compliance with the standardsPage and5 rulesof established14 underCODING: this section.

(6)(a) The construction or significant design modification of an advanced nuclear reactor must be certified by the commission before such construction or modification may begin.

(b) Before issuing a certification under this subsection, the commission must consider, at a minimum, all of the following:

Page 6 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 1.standards and rules established under this section.

(5)(a) The construction or significant design modification of an advanced nuclear reactor must be certified by the commission before such construction or modification may begin.

(b) Before issuing a certification under this subsection, the commission must consider, at a minimum, all of the following:

1.

(7)(6) If an applicant has been issued a permit or certification from another state or federal agency for the activitiesPage under6 this section, the commission may issue a reciprocal permit or certification if the safety standards of the14 otherCODING: state or federal agency are no less stringent than the standards and rules established under this section.

(8) A person, corporation, or entity who violates this section or any rules adopted hereunder is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day Page 7 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 activities under this section, the violationcommission persists,may exceptissue thata reciprocal permit or certification if the maximumsafety civilstandards penaltyof maythe notother exceedstate $1or millionfederal foragency anyare relatedno seriesless ofstringent violations.than the standards and rules established under this section.

(9)(7) TheA commission,person, aftercorporation, consultationor withentity who violates this section or any rules adopted hereunder is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day the Departmentviolation ofpersists, Healthexcept andthat the Departmentmaximum ofcivil Environmentalpenalty Protection,may shallnot adoptexceed rules$1 tomillion implementfor thisany section.related series of violations.

(8) The commission, after consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection, shall adopt rules to implement this section.

It is recognizedPage that7 10-year site plans submitted by an electric utility are tentative information for planning purposes only and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the14 utilityCODING: upon written notification to the commission.

A complete application for certification of an electrical power plant site under chapter 403, when such site is not designated in the current 10- year site plan of the applicant, shall constitute an amendment Page 8 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 torecognized thethat 10-year site plan.plans submitted by an electric utility are tentative information for planning purposes only and may be amended at any time at the discretion of the utility upon written notification to the commission.

A complete application for certification of an electrical power plant site under chapter 403, when such site is not designated in the current 10- year site plan of the applicant, shall constitute an amendment to the 10-year site plan.

Subsection (8) of section 366.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

366.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:

(8) "Public utility" means every person, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity and their lessees, trustees, or receivers supplying electricity or gas (natural, manufactured, or similar gaseous substance) to or for the public within this state;

but the term "public utility" does not include either a cooperative now or hereafter organized and Page 8 of 14 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1461 2026 existing under the Rural Electric Cooperative Law of the state;

a municipality or any agency thereof;

any entity, other than an electric utility, which produces electricity from an advanced nuclear reactor that is not interconnected to this state's electrical power grid for its own consumption or supplies such electricity for consumption by a single consumer;

any dependent or independent special natural gas district;

any natural gas transmission pipeline company making only sales or transportation delivery of natural gas at wholesale and to direct industrial consumers;

any entity selling or arranging for sales of natural gas which neither owns nor operates natural gas transmission or distribution facilities within the state;

or a person supplying liquefied petroleum gas, in either liquid or gaseous form, irrespective of the method of distribution or delivery, or owning or operating facilities beyond the outlet of a meter through which natural gas is supplied for compression and delivery into motor vehicle fuel tanks or other transportation containers, unless such person also supplies electricity or manufactured or natural gas.

Section 4.

366.92 Florida clean renewable energy policy.— (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the development of clean renewable energy;

protect the economic viability of Florida's existing clean renewable energy facilities;Page 9 of 14 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 1461 2026 facilities;

(a) "Clean energy" includes energy produced by nuclear reactors and includes renewable energy and renewable natural gas Pageas 9those ofterms 14are CODING:defined in s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb1461-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 1461 2026 as those terms are defined in s.

Section 4.

Paragraph (m) is added to subsection (3) of section 377.601, Florida Statutes, to read:

377.601 Legislative intent.— (3) In furtherance of the goals in subsection (2), it is the policy of the state to:

(m) Encourage the research, development, demonstration, and application of domestic advanced nuclear energy resources.

SubsectionParagraph (5)(m) is added to subsection (3) of section 403.503,377.601, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

403.503 Definitions relating to Florida Electrical Power Plant Siting Act.—As used in this act:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 (5)377.601 "Applicant"Legislative meansintent.— any(3) electricIn utilityfurtherance orof otherthe persongoals thatin whichsubsection applies(2), forit certificationis pursuant to the provisionspolicy of thisthe act.state to:

(m) Encourage the research, development, demonstration, and application of domestic advanced nuclear energy resources.

Capacity expansions of 75 megawatts or less, in the aggregate, of one or more advanced nuclear reactors as defined inPage s.11 of 14 CODING:

403.541 installed within the boundaries of an electrical power plant site previously certified under this act.

Page 11 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 4.in s.

403.541 installed within the boundaries of an electrical power plant site previously certified under this act.

4.

(b)5. The No construction of any new electrical power plant or expansion in steam generating capacity as measured by an increase in the maximum electrical generator rating of any existing electrical power plant may not be undertaken after October 1, 1973, without first obtaining certification in the manner as herein provided, except that this act shall not apply to any such electrical power plant which is presently operating or under construction or which has, upon the effective date of chapter 73-33, Laws of Florida, applied for a permit or certification under requirements in force prior to the effective date of such act.

SectionOne 7.or more advanced nuclear reactors as defined in s.

Paragraph403.541 (c)that isare addednot interconnected to subsectionthis (4)state's electrical power grid and that are owned by an entity other than an electric utility for purposes of sectionproducing 403.507,power Floridafor Statutes,its toown read:consumption or for use by a single consumer of electrical power.

(b) The No construction of any new electrical power plant or expansion in steam generating capacity as measured by an increase in the maximum electrical generator rating of any existing electrical power plant may not be undertaken after October 1, 1973, without first obtaining certification in the manner as herein provided, except that this act shall not apply Page 12 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 403.507to Preliminaryany statementssuch ofelectrical issues,power reports,plant projectwhich analyses,is andpresently studies.—operating (4)or (c)under Thisconstruction subsectionor doeswhich nothas, applyupon tothe aneffective applicationdate of chapter 73-33, Laws of Florida, applied for ana advancedpermit nuclearor reactorcertification asunder definedrequirements in s.force prior to the effective date of such act.

403.541Section that7. will not be interconnected to this state's electrical power grid.

SectionSubsection 8.(3) of section 403.519, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

Subsection (3) of section 403.519, Florida Statutes, is amended, and a new subsection (5) is added to that section, to read:

The commission shall also expressly consider the conservation measures taken by or reasonably available to the applicant or its members which might mitigate the need for the proposed plant and other matters within its jurisdiction which it deems Pagerelevant. 13 of 14 CODING:

The commission's determination of need for an electrical power plant shall create a presumption of public need Page 13 of 14 CODING:

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 1461 2026 relevant.and necessity and shall serve as the commission's report required by s.

The commission's determination of need for an electrical power plant shall create a presumption of public need and necessity and shall serve as the commission's report required by s.

(5)Section This8. section does not apply to an application for an advanced nuclear reactor as defined in s.

403.541 that will not be interconnected to this state's electrical power grid.

Section 9.

hb1461-02-c2hb1461-01-c1