Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 78 — Nuclear Regulatory Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 23, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 25, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high 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

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

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

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

152 added · 158 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 78 establishes a new Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office within the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control. This office will have the authority to create regulations for nuclear energy, collect fees for licenses, and pursue further partnerships with federal agencies. This change is significant because it will streamline nuclear energy oversight and support the growth of energy regulation in the state.

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HB0078S01 compared with HB0078 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0078 but was omitted in HB0078S01 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0078 but was inserted into HB0078S01 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
78 Nuclear Regulatory Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
Therefore, you need to read the actual bills.
This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
limitations of the compare program;
bad input data;
or other causes.
Nuclear Regulatory Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Albrecht Senate Sponsor:Derrin R.
Albrecht Senate Sponsor:
Derrin R.
H ▸ authorizes the director to enter cooperative agreements with federal agencies;
▸ authorizes the director to enter cooperative agreements with federal agencies;
and B ▸ authorizes new positions for the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office.
and ▸ authorizes new positions for the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office.
7 HB0078 compared with HB0078S01 None Other Special Clauses:
None Other Special Clauses:
19-3-113 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 1991, Chapter 112 ENACTS:
19-3-113, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 1991, Chapter 112 ENACTS:
19-3-321 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-101 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-102 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-103 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-104 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
19-3-321, Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953 H.B.
78 Enrolled Copy 19-14-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953 19-14-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
19-3-113.
19-3-113 .
- 2 - HB0078 compared with HB0078S01 (e) storage of nuclear material;
(e) storage of nuclear material;
Section 2 is enacted to read:
Section 19-3-321 is enacted to read:
19-3-321.
19-3-321 .
and (2) the project described in Subsection (1)(a) is permitted and licensed by the division under this title.
and - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
78 (2) the project described in Subsection (1)(a) is permitted and licensed by the division under this title.
Section 3 is enacted to read:
Section 19-14-101 is enacted to read:
19-14-101.
CHAPTER 14.
Nuclear Energy Regulation Act Part 1.
General Provisions 19-14-101 .
14.
(1) "Agreement State" means a state with which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has entered into an agreement under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C.
Nuclear Energy Regulation Act 1.
General Provisions (1) "Agreement State" means a state with which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has entered into an agreement under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C.
73a Ĥ→ {(c) {fuel conversion;} } (c){[} {(c)]} {(d){} ←Ĥ } fuel reprocessing;
(c) fuel reprocessing;
(d){ Ĥ→ {} [} {(d)]} {(e){} ←Ĥ } storage of nuclear material;
(d) storage of nuclear material;
and (e){ Ĥ→ {} [} {(e)]} {(f){} ←Ĥ } waste management associated with nuclear fuel cycle activities.
and (e) waste management associated with nuclear fuel cycle activities.
- 3 - HB0078 compared with HB0078S01 (6) "Nuclear Regulatory Commission" means the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission established under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to regulate civilian use of nuclear materials.
(6) "Nuclear Regulatory Commission" means the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission established under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to regulate civilian use of nuclear materials.
Section 4 is enacted to read:
Section 19-14-102 is enacted to read:
19-14-102.
19-14-102 .
(i) licensing of nuclear fuel cycle activities;
- 3 - H.B.
78 Enrolled Copy (i) licensing of nuclear fuel cycle activities;
Section 5 is enacted to read:
Section 19-14-103 is enacted to read:
19-14-103.
19-14-103 .
Show all 60 changed rows (20 more)
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(1) (1){(a)} Subject to authorization by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the division may regulate or license activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle within state jurisdiction.
(1)(a) Subject to authorization by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the division may regulate or license activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle within state jurisdiction.
- 4 - HB0078 compared with HB0078S01 (b) standards and performance objectives for:
(b) standards and performance objectives for:
(i){(ii)} compliance inspections;
(ii) compliance inspections;
(ii){(iii)} safety requirements;
(iii) safety requirements;
(iii){(iv)} security measures;
(iv) security measures;
(iv){(v)} environmental protection measures;
(v) environmental protection measures;
(v){(vi)} emergency preparedness and response;
(vi) emergency preparedness and response;
and (vi){(vii)} financial assurance and decommissioning;
and (vii) financial assurance and decommissioning;
(3) (a) The division may establish and collect fees sufficient to cover the costs of:
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
78 (3)(a) The division may establish and collect fees sufficient to cover the costs of:
Section 6 is enacted to read:
Section 19-14-104 is enacted to read:
19-14-104.
19-14-104 .
(a) evaluate the feasibility and benefit of pursuing expanded agreement state status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding nuclear fuel cycle activities;
(a) evaluate the feasibility and benefit of pursuing expanded Agreement State status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding nuclear fuel cycle activities;
(b) if the division determines that pursuing expanded agreement state status is feasible and beneficial, pursue expanded agreement state status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
(b) if the division determines that pursuing expanded Agreement State status is feasible and beneficial, pursue expanded Agreement State status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
and - 5 - HB0078 compared with HB0078S01 (c) develop procedures for coordinating with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on regulatory processes retained by the federal government.
and (c) develop procedures for coordinating with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on regulatory processes retained by the federal government.
(e) coordination activities with federal agencies;
- 5 - H.B.
and (f) any significant challenges or issues encountered in implementing this chapter{, including safety measures} .
78 Enrolled Copy (e) coordination activities with federal agencies;
and (f) any significant challenges or issues encountered in implementing this chapter.
Effective date.
2-26-26 7:49 AM - 6 -
- 6 -
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Amendments

3 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. House/ to Governor

  3. House/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. House/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from House for Enrolling

  8. House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

  9. House/ received from Senate

  10. Senate/ to House

  11. Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

  12. Senate/ received from House

  13. House/ to Senate

  14. House/ concurs with Senate amendment

  15. House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar

  16. House/ received from Senate

  17. Senate/ to House with amendments

  18. Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

  19. Senate/ substituted

  20. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  21. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0078S01

  22. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0078S01

  23. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0078S01

  24. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0078S01

  25. Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table

  26. Senate/ 3rd reading

  27. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  28. Senate/ 2nd reading

  29. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  30. Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  31. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  32. Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  33. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  34. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  35. Senate/ received from House

  36. House/ to Senate

  37. House/ passed 3rd reading

  38. House/ 3rd reading

  39. House/ 2nd reading

  40. House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  41. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  42. House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  43. House/ to standing committee [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  44. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  45. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  46. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  47. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0078

  48. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0078

  49. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0078

  50. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0078

  51. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  52. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 102 →

"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

Subjects

environment 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

Who sponsors HB 78?
HB 78 is sponsored by Derrin R. Owens (Republican) and Carl R. Albrecht (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 78?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 23, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 78?
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