An Act to Direct the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0343
Committee Amendment CA_C_H791 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §125

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " (^ " to H.P. 243, L.D. 343, "An Act to Direct the
Public Utilities Commission to Seek Informational Bids Regarding Small Modular Nuclear
Reactors in the State"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after fhe enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 35-A MRSA §125 is enacted to read:
§125. Reauests for proposals for establishment of small modular nuclear reactor
1. Small modular nuclear reactor or modular reactor defined. As used in this
section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "small modular nuclear reactor" or
"modular reactor" means a nuclear reactor that:
A, Has a rated eeneratine capacity of no more than 350 meeawatts;
B, Is capable of beine constnicted and operated at a sinele site on its own or m
combination with one or more nuclear reactors; and
C, Is required to be licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
2. Requests forjnformational bids. By October 1. 2026. and trienniallv thereafter.
the commission shall request informational bids reeardine the establishment of a small
modular nuclear reactor in the State. The informational bids must include the costs of
establishing a modular reactor in the State, either through manufacture on site or transport
into the State, the proposed location of a modular reactor, the time needed to establish a
8 modular reactor in the State, the annual operational costs of a modular reactor and any other
information the commission_detei'mines necessary, The commission shall issue m'otective
orders pursuant to section 1311-A to protect the information provided by persons
submitting bids. The bids are not binding on the State or the person submittine the bid.
3. Triennial report. By January 15. 2027. and trienniallv thereafter, the commission
shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature havmg jurisdiction over
4 energy and utility matters a report regarding the infonnational bids received by the
commission pursuant to subsection 2. The commission shall provide information in the
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
A
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/ ' " to H,P, 243, L,D, 343
report regarding the infonnational bids received pursuant to subsection 2 in a manner that
protects the identity ofnersons submittine bids. The ioiat standing committee may report
out a bill based on the report in the same leeislative session in which the report is received.
4. Termination. This section is repealed when the State.accepts a bid for the
establishment of a small modular nuclear reactor. The commission shall notify the Revisor
of Statutes when the State accepts a bid for the establishment of a small modular nuclear
reactor.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment requires the Public Utilities Commission to request, by October 1,
2026, and triennially thereafter, informational bids regarding the establishment of a small
modular nuclear reactor in the State instead of requiring the commission to conduct an
annual request for proposals for informational bids starting on October 1st, as proposed in
the bill. It also directs the commission to issue protective orders to protect the information
provided by persons submitting bids. The amendment changes the reporting date
requu'ement in the bill from an annual report to be submitted beginning January 15, 2026
to a triennial report to be submitted begmning January 15, 2027,
The amendment also changes the allocation of a provision of law to avoid a conflict
with a recently enacted provision of law.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 01/23/26 l-KL.
LD 343 LR 443(08)
An Act to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Seek Informational Bids Regarding Small
IModular Nuclear Reactors in the State
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 7'"
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission from the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0443(08) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1