ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

HB 2795: small modular reactors; zoning; approval

Sponsor: Representative Carbone, LD 25

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Prohibits any county zoning ordinance from preventing or otherwise regulating the use or occupation of land or improvements for the construction and operation of a Small Modular Reactor if all listed requirements are met prior to the construction of the reactor.

History

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are nuclear fission reactors that produce electrical energy output and are smaller in both size and output from more traditional, larger nuclear reactors. SMRs vary in size, technology options, capabilities, deployment scenarios and output. These reactors vary in size from tens of megawatts up to hundreds of megawatts, can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination or other industrial uses. SMR designs may employ light water as a coolant or other non-light water coolants such as a gas, liquid metal or molten salt (DOE).

Provisions

1. Prohibits any zoning ordinance from preventing, restricting or otherwise regulating the use or occupation of land or improvements for the construction and operation of an SMR if all of the following have been met:

a. the owner or operator of the SMR has voluntarily applied for and received an early site permit for the SMR site from a federal agency or commission that regulates public health and safety relating to nuclear reactor operation;

b. the owner or operator of the SMR has conducted the relevant public notice and comment process that is pursuant to federal regulations before obtaining a voluntary early site permit;

c. the SMR has received a design certification pursuant to federal regulation from a relevant federal agency or commission; and

d. the owner or operator of the SMR has submitted to the board of supervisors of the relevant county evidence of all of the following:

i. the completion of the public notice and comment period;

ii. the early site permit issued by a federal agency or commission that regulates public health and safety relating to nuclear reactor operation; and

iii. the design certification of the SMR. (Sec. 1)

2. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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6. Initials CW/HC HB 2795

7. 1/28/2026 Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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