A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- 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
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Energy companies and facility developers benefit from faster licensing and reduced regulatory delays.
- Scored +4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
Strengthening domestic uranium enrichment capabilities reduces reliance on foreign sources, specifically Russia.
- Scored +4
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Faster development of nuclear energy facilities supports a transition toward carbon-free energy sources.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The ability to issue licenses without hearings and use informal procedures reduces transparency and public scrutiny.
- Scored -3
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Removing mandatory hearings for certain permits potentially limits the due process rights of affected parties.
- Scored -3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
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)).
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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
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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)).
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Energy companies and facility developers benefit from faster licensing and reduced regulatory delays. Would union members be better off under this? — Increased construction of energy facilities likely creates more high-paying union construction jobs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — 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? — Removing mandatory hearings for certain permits potentially limits the due process rights of affected parties.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Reducing regulatory hurdles for energy infrastructure typically supports long-term economic expansion. Is this likely to create jobs? — Streamlined licensing and at-risk construction for uranium facilities may stimulate investment and job growth in the energy sector. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Reducing mandatory public hearing requirements may limit the ability of the public to challenge potentially hazardous facilities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Strengthening domestic uranium enrichment capabilities reduces reliance on foreign sources, specifically Russia.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Faster development of nuclear energy facilities supports a transition toward carbon-free energy sources. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — Increasing nuclear capacity can displace the need for fossil-fuel-based energy generation. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Allowing licenses without hearings and at-risk construction may reduce public oversight of environmental safety.
- 7/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Thomas MassieRepublican · Kentucky