Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB57: AN ACT relating to nuclear energy development.
Status: Signed into law, April 8, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to establish the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program; define terms; require the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (authority) to annually submit recommendations to the General Assembly for awarding grant funding to eligible applicants for up to 1/3 of the actual costs incurred in applying for and procuring an early site permit, construction permit, or combined operating license from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not to exceed $25,000,000; establish eligibility requirements and scoring criteria for applications; require the authority to make eligibility determinations and objectively score grant applications; require that applicants procure a surety bond or other similar security to guarantee the repayment of the grant amounts in the event of forfeiture for eligibility; provide for forfeiture and repayment of grant funding if certain permitting, licensure, or commencement of construction timelines are not met; establish the Kentucky nuclear reactor site readiness pilot program fund; create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to allow a regulated utility to apply to the Public Service Commission for the recovery of costs not covered in its existing rates incurred in applying for and procuring an early site permit, construction permit, or combined operating license from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; prohibit the recovery of costs for any amounts that have been offset by grant funding from the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program; amend KRS 164.2802 to require 12 hours of nuclear-related training for new and existing at-large voting members of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority; allow the director or the chair of the authority to waive the training requirement for any member who can demonstrate adequate knowledge of nuclear-related issues; require that the authority include its evaluations, scores, and funding recommendations for the Nuclear Reactor Sit
What the bill says
An act relating to nuclear energy development.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to nuclear energy development. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 164 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Affiliate" means any person, partnership, or corporation that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, a utility; (b) "Authority" means the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority established in Section 4 of this Act; (c) "Combined operating license" means a license issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission pursuant to 10 C.F.R. sec. 52.71 et seq., or other licensing frameworks as may be adopted in federal regulations by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for advanced nuclear generating reactors, that enables its holder to construct and operate a nuclear power plant at a specific site; (d) "Construction permit" means a permit issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission pursuant to 10 C.F.R. pt. 50 that enables its holder to construct a nuclear power plant at a specific site; (e) "Early site permit" means a permit issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission pursuant to 10 C.F.R. sec. 52.12 et seq. that enables its holder to secure federal site approval for a nuclear power plant site prior to seeking an operating reactor license from the …
Sponsors
- Danny Carroll (R, SD-002) · primary sponsor
- Matthew Deneen (R, SD-010)
- Greg Elkins (R, SD-028)
- Robert Mills (R, SD-004)
- Gerald Neal (D, SD-033)
- Steve West (R, SD-027)
- Phillip Wheeler (R, SD-031)
- Max Wise (R, SD-016)
Latest actions
- : signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 56)
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 82-11
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 19 2026
- : reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules
- : to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : returned to Committee on Committees (H)
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 329 (March 26, 2026): 82 yea, 11 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS SB 57 w/ SCS 2, SCS 1 (SCS 2) RSN# 3871 (March 2, 2026): 37 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Energy, Public Utilities, Federal Laws And Regulations, Fiscal Note, Economic Development, Boards And Commissions, Nuclear Energy, Public Records And Reports
Common questions
- What is SB57?
- SB57 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to nuclear energy development.
- What does SB57 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to nuclear energy development.
- What is the status of SB57?
- Signed into law as of April 8, 2026. Latest action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 56) (April 8, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB57?
- Danny Carroll (R, SD-002), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB57?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb57.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.