Assembly BillFailedPublic Resources
AB 305: Energy: nuclear facilities.
What AB 305 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to amend existing laws related to energy in California. It would exempt small modular reactors from certain provisions regarding nuclear facilities, allowing them to be certified and used as a permitted land use in the state. The bill would also require the Public Utilities Commission to adopt a plan to increase the procurement of electricity generated from nuclear facilities and phase out natural gas facilities by 2028. This plan is part of the state's goal to have 100% of electricity supplied by renewable energy sources and zero-carbon resources by 2045.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| Apr. 21, 2025 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Mar. 17, 2025 | Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and U. & E. |
| Jan. 24, 2025 | From printer. May be heard in committee February 23. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 23, 2025 · 918 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 305
| Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Dixon and Hoover) |
January 23, 2025 |
An act to amend Sections 25524.1 and 25524.2 of the Public Resources Code, and to add Section 711 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 305, as introduced, Arambula. Energy: nuclear facilities.
Existing law prohibits the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) from certifying a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except for specified powerplants, and provides that a nuclear fission thermal powerplant, except those specified powerplants, is not a permitted land use in California unless certain conditions are met regarding the existence of technology for the construction and operation of nuclear fuel rod processing plants and of demonstrated technology or means for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, as specified.
This bill would exempt small modular reactors, as defined, from those provisions.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over electrical corporations and gas corporations. Under existing law, it is the policy of the state that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 100% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100% of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2045. Existing law requires the PUC, the Energy Commission, and all other state agencies to incorporate that policy into all relevant planning.
This bill would require the PUC, on or before January 1, 2028, to adopt a plan to increase the procurement of electricity generated from nuclear facilities and to phase out the procurement of electricity generated from natural gas facilities.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25524.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:25524.1.
(a) Except for the existing Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2 owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Onofre Units 2 and 3 owned by Southern California Edison Company and San Diego Gas and Electric Company,(1) The commission finds that the United States through its authorized agency has identified and approved, and there exists a technology for the construction and operation of, nuclear fuel rod reprocessing plants.
(2) (A) The commission has reported its findings and the reasons therefor pursuant to paragraph (1) to the Legislature. That report shall be assigned to the appropriate policy committees for review. The commission may proceed to certify nuclear fission thermal powerplants 100 legislative days after reporting its findings unless within those 100 legislative days either house of the Legislature adopts by a majority vote of its members a resolution disaffirming the findings of the commission made pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
(B)
A resolution of disaffirmance shall set forth the reasons for the action and shall provide, to the extent possible, guidance to the commission as to an appropriate method of bringing the commission’s findings into conformance with paragraph (1).(4)
(C)
If a disaffirming resolution is adopted, the commission shall reexamine its original findings consistent with matters raised in the resolution. On conclusion of its reexamination, the commission shall transmit its findings in writing, with the reasons therefor, to the Legislature.(5)
(D)
If the findings are that the conditions of paragraph (1) have been met, the commission may proceed to certify nuclear fission thermal powerplants 100 legislative days after reporting its findings to the Legislature unless within those 100 legislative days both houses of the Legislature act by statute to declare the findings null and void and takes appropriate action.(6)
(E)
To allow sufficient time for the Legislature to act, the reports of findings of the commission shall be submitted to the Legislature at least six calendar months(b) The commission shall further find on a case-by-case basis that facilities with adequate capacity to reprocess nuclear fuel rods from a certified nuclear facility or to store that fuel if that storage is approved by an authorized agency of the United States are in actual operation or will be in operation at the time that the nuclear facility requires reprocessing or storage; provided, however, that storage if the storage of fuel is in an offsite location to the extent necessary to provide continuous onsite full core reserve storage capacity.
(c) The commission shall continue to receive and process notices of intention and applications for certification pursuant to this division, but shall not issue a decision pursuant to Section 25523 granting a certificate until the requirements of this section have been met. All other permits, licenses, approvals, or authorizations for the entry or use of the land, including orders of court, which that may be required may be processed and granted by the governmental entity concerned, but construction work to install permanent equipment or structures shall not commence until the requirements of this section have been met.
(d) (1) This section does not apply to a small modular reactor.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “small modular reactor” means a nuclear reactor with an electrical generating capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit.
Text of AB 305 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions