HB0647 • 2026

Power Plant Research Program - Study on Nuclear Energy

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Delegates Ivey and Fennell
Last action: 2026-02-23
Official status: In the House - Withdrawn by Sponsor
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Power Plant Research Program - Study on Nuclear Energy

Requiring the Power Plant Research Program to study and make recommendations on nuclear energy and its role as a renewable energy resource that can effectively combat climate change in the State; and requiring, by September 30, 2027, the Program to report its official findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

What This Bill Does

Requiring the Power Plant Research Program to study and make recommendations on nuclear energy and its role as a renewable energy resource that can effectively combat climate change in the State; and requiring, by September 30, 2027, the Program to report its official findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-23 House
Withdrawn by Sponsor
2026-02-17 House
Hearing canceled
2026-02-02 House
Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-30 House
First Reading Environment and Transportation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Power Plant Research Program - Study on Nuclear Energy
Maryland General Assembly
Vote - House - Committee - Environment and Transportation

Official Summary Text

Requiring the Power Plant Research Program to study and make recommendations on nuclear energy and its role as a renewable energy resource that can effectively combat climate change in the State; and requiring, by September 30, 2027, the Program to report its official findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0647*

HOUSE BILL 647
M5, M1, M3 6lr2603

By: Delegates Ivey and Fennell
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Power Plant Research Program – Study on Nuclear Energy 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the Power Plant Research Program to study and make 3
recommendations on nuclear energy and its role as a renewable energy resource; and 4
generally relating to a study on nuclear energy. 5

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7

(a) The Power Plant Research Program shall study and make recommendations 8
on nuclear energy and its role as a renewable energy resource that can effectively combat 9
climate change in the State. 10

(b) The study shall: 11

(1) evaluate and summarize the current state of nuclear energy in 12
Maryland; 13

(2) identify the benefits of nuclear energy use in Maryland , including the 14
environmental benefits of nuclear energy that may help to combat climate change; 15

(3) identify the potential for a new nuclear power initiative to be deployed 16
within the State using one or more nuclear technologies, including identifying: 17

(i) major barriers to deploying a successful nuclear power initiative; 18
and 19

(ii) a time frame for deploying a successful nuclear power initiative; 20

(4) identify potential locations in the State where State–owned and 21
operated nuclear energy generating stations may be constructed; 22
2 HOUSE BILL 647

(5) assess the practicality of adding nuclear energy to Maryland’s 1
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard; and 2

(6) include recommendations regarding initiatives for the State and the 3
General Assembly to responsibly and efficiently grow the nuclear energy industry in the 4
State, support new emerging nuclear energy technologies that may improve nuclear energy 5
as a viable renewable energy resource, and utilize nuclear energy as a resource to help the 6
State combat climate change. 7

(c) On or before September 30, 2027 , the Power Plant Research Program shall 8
report its official findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 9
2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2026. 12