summary
Introduced
01/09/2026
01/09/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to advanced nuclear reactors; creating s. 403.541, F.S.; defining terms; granting the Florida Public Service Commission the sole authority to regulate advanced nuclear reactors in this state; requiring the commission to take certain regulatory actions; authorizing the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection to exercise specified powers and duties and develop certain guidelines; requiring the commission, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection to jointly establish criteria for the certification of laboratories that perform analysis on nuclear materials for certain purposes; authorizing the possession of nuclear material for specified purposes; providing an exception and limitation for such possession; requiring permits for the transfer, receipt, possession, use, storage, or disposal of nuclear materials; requiring the commission to make a certain determination before issuing such permits; requiring the commission to certify construction and significant design modifications of advanced nuclear reactors; requiring the commission to consider certain factors before issuing such certifications; requiring that the construction or significant design modification include certain control devices; authorizing the commission to issue a reciprocal permit or certification if certain conditions are met; providing penalties; requiring the commission, after consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health, to adopt rules; providing requirements for such rules; amending s. 186.801, F.S.; revising the criteria the commission must consider in its preliminary study of electric utility 10-year site plans; amending s. 366.02, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “public utility”; amending s. 366.92, F.S.; revising legislative intent for the state’s renewable energy policy; revising definitions; revising requirements for the development of certain standards by electric utilities; deleting such requirements for rural cooperatives; amending s. 377.601, F.S.; revising legislative intent for the state’s energy policy; amending s. 403.506, F.S.; revising applicability of power plant capacity and expansion thresholds; amending s. 403.519, F.S.; revising the criteria the commission must consider in making determinations for proposed power plants; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactors in Florida, granting the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) sole authority to regulate these reactors, which are defined as fusion reactors or significantly improved fission reactors with features like passive safety and lower waste. The PSC will be responsible for approving designs, issuing permits for nuclear material possession and use for research, construction, and operation, and setting safety and construction standards. The Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection will also play roles, developing guidelines to protect human health from radiation and mitigate environmental harm, respectively, and jointly establishing criteria with the PSC for certifying laboratories that analyze nuclear materials. The bill also allows for possession of nuclear material for these purposes, with permits required for transfer, receipt, use, storage, or disposal, and mandates that the PSC certify construction and significant design modifications, considering factors like public safety, design compliance, risk assessment, and resource efficiency. It also allows for reciprocal permits or certifications if other states or federal agencies have equally stringent safety standards, and sets penalties for violations. Additionally, the bill revises criteria for the PSC's review of electric utility 10-year site plans to include nuclear energy resources, updates the definition of "public utility" to clarify its scope regarding advanced nuclear reactors, broadens Florida's clean energy policy to include advanced nuclear reactors, and amends power plant capacity thresholds and criteria for determining the need for proposed power plants to specifically consider nuclear energy resources.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died in Regulated Industries (on 03/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1696 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1696/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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