Bill · H.R. 9658· House(119-HR-9658)
Nuclear Regulatory Modernization Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/13/2026
- Last activity
- 7/13/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Victoria Spartz
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Nuclear Regulatory Modernization Act of 2026 updates rules for Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearings and uranium enrichment facilities. It allows the Commission to issue certain permits and licenses without a hearing, provided there is a thirty-day notice and publication in the Federal Register. The bill also permits "at-risk" construction of uranium enrichment facilities before a license is issued. Additionally, it allows the Commission to use informal procedures for hearings. The act maintains the prohibition on importing uranium from the Russian Federation.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would business owners be better off under this?+6
Energy companies and facility developers benefit from faster licensing and reduced regulatory delays.
Does this make trade with other countries easier?+4
Strengthening domestic uranium enrichment capabilities reduces reliance on foreign sources, specifically Russia.
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?+4
Faster development of nuclear energy facilities supports a transition toward carbon-free energy sources.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-4
The ability to issue licenses without hearings and use informal procedures reduces transparency and public scrutiny.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-3
Removing mandatory hearings for certain permits potentially limits the due process rights of affected parties.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-3
Allowing licenses without hearings and at-risk construction may reduce public oversight of environmental safety.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Faster Licensing Processes: By allowing the Commission to issue permits and licenses without a hearing upon thirty days notice, the process for facility approvals may be streamlined (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
-
Uranium Facility Development: The authorization for "at-risk" construction allows uranium enrichment facilities to begin building before a license is issued, which may speed up the development of these facilities (Section 3(b)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Reduced Hearing Requirements: The bill changes the requirement for the Commission to hold a hearing to a provision where the Commission "may" issue licenses without one, which could limit public participation in the approval process for certain facilities (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
-
Informal Procedures: The shift toward allowing "informal adjudicatory procedures" for hearings may change the nature of how these legal proceedings are conducted (Section 2(a)(1)(B) and 2(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+6Good For Union Workers+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency-4Improves Due Process-3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Increases Job Creation+3Improves Consumer Protection-2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves International Trade+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Reduces Carbon Emissions+4Reduces Fossil Fuel Production+2Improves Environmental Protections-3
- 7/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Thomas MassieRepublican · Kentucky