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SB 135UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah authorizes Office of Energy Development to coordinate nuclear fuel recycling and pursue innovation campus

Original title: Nuclear Reprocessing Amendments

Last action · March 25, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Derrin Owens and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts the Nuclear Reprocessing Amendments, authorizing the Office of Energy Development to coordinate facility development, act as a liaison between private entities and local communities, and pursue a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus beginning May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Expands the official duties of state energy agencies to actively recruit and facilitate nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities and advanced reactor projects, involving potential federal funding and state-backed project financing.

Background
  • The Office of Energy Development operates within the Utah Department of Natural Resources to advance energy and mineral development in the state. context
  • The United States Department of Energy issued a Request for Information on the Establishment of Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses on January 28, 2026. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Office of Energy Development

The office is granted new statutory duties to coordinate nuclear fuel recycling, serve as a community liaison, and pursue the establishment of a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.

Directly affected

Utah Energy Council

The council is authorized to provide strategic guidance, conduct preliminary assessments, and administer fund money for project financing and matching grants.

Directly affected

Private entities seeking nuclear fuel recycling

Private entities can coordinate with state offices, receive project financing and matching grants, and engage in nuclear fuel recycling facility development.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the Office of Energy Development under this bill?
The office is authorized to coordinate with public and private entities regarding facility development, serve as a liaison between private entities and local communities, pursue the development of a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, and report annually on these activities.
How will the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus be funded?
The Utah Energy Council may use the to provide project financing and matching grants for entities participating in the campus, and any federal funding for the campus will be deposited into this same fund.
When is the report due regarding state legal barriers to hosting the campus?
The office must submit a report to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee on or before October 31, 2026, summarizing findings on statutory or regulatory barriers.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

49 actions
  1. Mar 25, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to Governor
  3. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 6, 2026Senate Secretary
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 43 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
  2. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  4. Mar 4, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  5. Mar 4, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  7. Mar 4, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  8. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  9. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
  10. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
  11. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ committee report favorable
  12. Feb 12, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Feb 11, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0135S02
  14. Feb 11, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0135S02
  15. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  16. Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  17. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  18. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  19. Feb 6, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  20. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ substituted
  21. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ uncircled
  22. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0135S02
  23. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0135S02
  24. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ circled
  25. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  26. Feb 3, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  27. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  28. Jan 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  29. Jan 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  30. Jan 23, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0135S01
  31. Jan 22, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0135S01
  32. Jan 22, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  33. Jan 22, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  34. Jan 21, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  35. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0135S01
  36. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0135S01
  37. Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  38. Jan 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0135
  39. Jan 15, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  40. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0135
  41. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0135
  42. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  43. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Derrin OwensSenate · District 27RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Carl AlbrechtHouse · District 70RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion into Nuclear Fuel Recycling

The legislation broadens the scope of the Office of Energy Development from general energy planning to active coordination and facilitation of nuclear fuel recycling facilities and innovation campuses.

Office of Energy DevelopmentUtah Energy Council

Connected Entities

Department of Environmental Quality, Utah Energy Council, Nuclear Energy Consortium and 4 more
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Quality“State agency coordinating on federal environmental rules and regulatory oversigh”Map →
OrganizationUtah Energy Council“Council authorized to provide strategic guidance, conduct preliminary assessment”Map →
OrganizationNuclear Energy Consortium“Consortium providing knowledge and expertise regarding nuclear energy technologi”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Energy Development“State office charged with coordinating nuclear fuel recycling facility developme”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Nuclear Regulatory Commission“Federal regulatory agency with jurisdiction over nuclear fuel recycling faciliti”Map →
OrganizationPublic Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee“Legislative committee receiving annual reports from the office, council, and div”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Department of Energy“Federal agency issuing the Request for Information on Establishment of Nuclear L”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy45
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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