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HB2798 • 2026

appropriation; Arizona geological survey; study

HB2798 - appropriation; Arizona geological survey; study

Budget Energy Land
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Michael Carbone
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
House third read failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify exact details about the types of advanced nuclear reactors beyond mentioning SMRs, molten salt reactors, liquid metal reactors, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.

Study for Nuclear Materials in Arizona

HB2798 provides $100,000 from the state's general fund to the University of Arizona for distribution to the Arizona Geological Survey to conduct a study on minerals and metals needed for advanced nuclear reactors.

What This Bill Does

  • Appropriates $100,000 from the state General Fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the University of Arizona for distribution to the Arizona Geological Survey.
  • Requires AZGS to compile data on proven and probable reserves and notable occurrences of non-uranium fuel materials needed for advanced nuclear reactors, including thorium.
  • AZGS must create a statewide map showing all proven and probable reserves and notable occurrences of these materials, along with mineral districts with significant potential.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The University of Arizona
  • The Arizona Geological Survey
  • People interested in nuclear energy resources

Terms To Know

Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear reactors that are more efficient and safer than older models, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Proven and Probable Reserves
The amount of minerals or metals that can be mined based on current knowledge.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact date by which the study must be completed.
  • It is unclear how the data will be used after the report is made available.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Adopted 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2798 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2798 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; university of Arizona; map; report 2 A.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Natural Resources, Energy & Water Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Natural Resources, Energy & Water Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2798 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2798 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; university of Arizona; map; report 2 A.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 House

    House third read failed

  2. 2026-02-24 House

    House committee of the whole

  3. 2026-02-10 House

    House minority caucus

  4. 2026-02-10 House

    House majority caucus

  5. 2026-01-21 House

    House second read

  6. 2026-01-20 House

    House Rules: C&P

  7. 2026-01-20 House

    House Appropriations: DPA

  8. 2026-01-20 House

    House Natural Resources, Energy & Water: DPA

  9. 2026-01-20 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2798 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House:
NREW DPA 7-3-0-0 |

APPROP DPA 11-5-1-1

HB
2798
: appropriation; Arizona geological survey; study

Sponsor:
Representative Carbone, LD 25

Caucus
& COW

Overview

Appropriates
an unspecified amount from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2027 to the
University of Arizona for distribution to the Arizona Geological Survey to
conduct a mineral and metal study relating to materials for nuclear energy.

History

The objectives of the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) are among
the following:

1)

serve
as a primary source of geological information to enhance public understanding
of Arizona's geologic character, hazards and limitations and mining and mineral
resources;

2)

inform,
advise and assist the public in matters concerning the geological processes,
materials and landscapes and the development and use of the mineral resources
of Arizona;

3)

encourage
the wide use of the lands and mineral resources of Arizona toward its
development; and

4)

provide
technical advice and assistance in geology to other state and local
governmental agencies engaged in geological projects (
A.R.S. � 27-103
).

AZGS was established under the University of Arizona (UA) and
is administered by the State Geologist who serves at the pleasure of the
Arizona Board of Regents (
A.R.S. � 27-102
).

Small Modular Nuclear 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.

Appropriates
an unspecified amount from the state GF in FY 2027 to UA for distribution to
AZGS. (Sec. 1)

2.

Specifies
the appropriated monies are to be used to:

a.

conduct a
study of all minerals and metals, including thorium, that are needed for
generation III+ and generation IV SMRs and advanced nuclear reactors; and

b.

create a
statewide map of all proven and probable reserves of the applicable minerals
and metals, including the quantities and grades for each identified proved and
probable reserve. (Sec. 1)

3.

Requires
AZGS, by an unspecified date, to submit a report of the findings of the study
to outlined officials and make available a copy of the report on the AZGS
website. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committees on
Natural Resources, Energy & Water and Appropriations

1.

Replaces the
unspecified appropriation with $100,000 dollars.

2.

Revises that
the monies appropriated shall be used to compile available data on specified
materials that are needed for certain advanced nuclear reactors including
molten salt reactors, liquid metal reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled
reactors.

3.

Expands upon
the requirements for a statewide map to include notable occurrences of
specified materials and to include known mineral districts with significant
potential for the specified materials.��

4.

Replaces the
unspecified deadline with one year after the effective date of this section.

5.

Makes
technical changes.

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2798

1/28/2026������� Page
0 Caucus & COW

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2798 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

appropriation;
Arizona geological survey; study

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2798

AN
ACT

APPROPRIATING monies to the University of
Arizona.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Appropriation;
university of Arizona; map; report

A. The sum of
$100,000
is appropriated from the
state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the university of Arizona
for distribution to the Arizona geological survey established by section 27-102,
Arizona Revised Statutes.

B. The monies appropriated
by subsection A of this section shall be used to:

1.
Compile available data on proven and probable reserves and
notable occurrences in this state of all
non-uranium
fuel materials, including thorium, that are needed for generation III+ and
generation IV advanced nuclear reactors
,
including molten salt reactors, liquid metal reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled
reactors.

2. Create a statewide map
of all proven and probable reserves
and notable
occurrences of the
materials identified in
paragraph 1 of this subsection. The map shall include the mineral
and metal quantities and grades, if known, for each identified proven and
probable reserve.�
The map shall also include
known mineral districts with significant potential for the materials identified
in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

C. On or before
one year after the effective date of this section, the
Arizona geological survey shall submit a report of the findings of the study
conducted pursuant to subsection B of this section to the governor, the
president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
chairperson of the natural resources, energy and water committee of the house
of representatives and the chairperson of the natural resources committee of
the senate and shall make available a copy of this report on the Arizona
geological survey's website.