HB2038 • 2025

Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste produced from nuclear energy.

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Representative Wright,, Levy B,, Boice,, Diehl,, Owens, Representative Evans,, Osborne,, Scharf,, Yunker,
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In House Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

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

Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste produced from nuclear energy.

Digest: Tells ODOE to study nuclear energy and give a report on its findings.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Tells ODOE to study nuclear energy and give a report on its findings.
(Flesch Readability Score: 63.4).
Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including [nuclear waste disposal] legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste produced from nuclear energy.
Requires the department to consult with the Public Utility Commission and the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council and to engage with the federally recognized Indian tribes in this state, relevant state agencies and stakeholders. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committee of the House of Representatives on climate, energy and environment not later than [September 15, 2026] January 31, 2027.

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

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-04-14 House
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.
2025-04-14 House
Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.
2025-04-08 House
Work Session held.
2025-02-27 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-01-17 House
Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.
2025-01-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Tells ODOE to study nuclear energy and give a report on its findings. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4).
Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including [<i>nuclear waste disposal</i>] <b>legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste produced</b> from nuclear energy. <b>Requires the department to consult with the Public Utility Commission and the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council and to engage with the federally recognized Indian tribes in this state, relevant state agencies and stakeholders.</b>
Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committee of the House of Representatives on climate, energy and environment not later than [<i>September 15, 2026</i>] <b>January 31, 2027</b>.
Sunsets January 2, [<i>2027</i>] <b>2028</b>.
Relating to: Relating to nuclear energy.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2038
Ordered by the House April 14
Including House Amendments dated April 14
Sponsored by Representatives WRIGHT, LEVY B, BOICE, DIEHL, OWENS; Representatives EVANS, OSBORNE,
SCHARF, YUNKER (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: Tells ODOE to study nuclear energy and give a report on its findings. (Flesch Read-
ability Score: 63.4).
Requires the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including [ nuclear waste dis-
posal] legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste produced from nuclear energy. Requires
the department to consult with the Public Utility Commission and the Pacific Northwest
Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council and to engage with the federally recog-
nized Indian tribes in this state, relevant state agencies and stakeholders.
Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committee of the House of Represen-
tatives on climate, energy and environment not later than [ September 15, 2026 ] January 31, 2027.
Sunsets January 2, [ 2027] 2028.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to nuclear energy.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) The State Department of Energy, in consultation with the Public Utility
Commission and the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council,
shall study the following subjects as related to nuclear energy, including legal pathways for
the disposal of nuclear waste produced from nuclear energy:
(a) Potential advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy;
(b) Feasibility of constructing nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors, in
Oregon, including:
(A) Timing for developing nuclear energy projects;
(B) Life cycle costs of developing nuclear energy projects compared to other energy
sources;
(C) Risks to health and the environment throughout the life cycle of a nuclear energy
project;
(D) Measures for overcoming challenges to developing nuclear energy projects; and
(E) Government and industry support necessary for developing nuclear energy projects;
(c) How the use of nuclear energy may or may not support current energy systems, in-
cluding the ability of the electric grid to meet load requirements;
(d) Economic growth and workforce development potential for Oregon communities;
(e) Safety of nuclear energy;
(f) Ability to safely and legally store and dispose of nuclear waste of the type produced
from nuclear energy, including:
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 481
A-Eng. HB 2038
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(A) Economic costs of disposing of the nuclear waste; and
(B) Locations for interim storage of the nuclear waste;
(g) Reliability of nuclear energy;
(h) How the use of locally produced nuclear energy can eliminate dependence on
foreign-sourced energy;
(i) Use of thorium as an option for producing nuclear energy;
(j) Recommendations for making nuclear energy viable and cost-effective; and
(k) Long-term outlook for nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, fusion and
advanced reactors.
(2) In developing the study, the department shall engage with the federally recognized
Indian tribes located in this state, relevant state agencies and stakeholders. Engagement
with the Indian tribes must include direct written contact with the tribal government of each
Indian tribe. The department and each tribal government shall reach an agreement on a
reasonable amount of time for the tribal government to respond and provide input.
(3) The department shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and
may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committee of the House of
Representatives on climate, energy and environment no later than January 31, 2027.
SECTION 2.
Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2028.
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