SB997 • 2025

Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

Energy

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Senator Smith DB
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In Senate 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.

Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

Digest: Exempts the siting of a power plant that uses one or more small modular reactors from the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear power plant may be sited in this state.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Exempts the siting of a power plant that uses one or more small modular reactors from the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear power plant may be sited in this state.
Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection.
(Flesch Readability Score: 60.3).
Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

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 Senate
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-02-10 Senate
Referred to Energy and Environment.
2025-02-06 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Exempts the siting of a power plant that uses one or more small modular reactors from the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear power plant may be sited in this state. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.3).
Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Relating to small modular reactor energy facilities; providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 997
Sponsored by Senator SMITH DB
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 as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Exempts the siting of a power plant that uses one or more small modular reactors from
the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear
power plant may be sited in this state. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection.
(Flesch Readability Score: 60.3).
Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that
there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to small modular reactor energy facilities; and providing that this Act shall be referred to
the people for their approval or rejection.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS 469.590 to
469.601.
SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Small modular reactor” means an advanced nuclear reactor:
(A) With a nameplate capacity of 300 electrical megawatts or less;
(B) That is made up of components that are factory fabricated and transported to lo-
cation for on-site assembly; and
(C) That may be constructed and operated in combination with similar reactors at a
single site.
(b) “Small modular reactor energy facility” means an energy facility that produces power
from using one or more small modular reactors at a single site.
(2) ORS 469.595 and 469.599 do not apply to a small modular reactor energy facility.
SECTION 3.
This 2025 Act shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection
at the next regular general election held throughout this state.
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 4509