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HB1420 • 2026

Nuclear energy industry; training resources to advance workforce development.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to direct the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the nuclear energy industry.</p>

Education Energy Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Whittle
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Training for Nuclear Energy Workers

This law directs the Department of Energy to create training programs that help people get jobs in the nuclear energy industry.

What This Bill Does

  • Tells the Director of the Department of Energy to find and make training resources for workers in the nuclear energy field.
  • Includes training on soft skills, technical skills, radiation safety, quality assurance, plant operations, emergency preparedness, and security protocols.
  • Prioritizes training for veterans, local workers, and people from economically disadvantaged communities.
  • Requires consultation with higher education institutions, vocational-technical schools, apprenticeship programs, and historically black colleges or universities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Director of the Department of Energy
  • Workers in the nuclear energy industry
  • Veterans and people from economically disadvantaged communities

Terms To Know

Historically Economically Disadvantaged Communities
Communities that have faced long-term economic challenges as defined by Virginia law.
Historically Black College or University (HBCU)
A college or university in the United States that was established before 1964 with the purpose of primarily serving African American students.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided for these training programs.
  • It is unclear what specific steps the Department of Energy must take to consult with educational institutions and other organizations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Labor and Commerce

  2. 2026-02-09 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1420)

  3. 2026-01-22 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26106023D

  4. 2026-01-22 Labor and Commerce

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Direct the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the nuclear energy industry.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL to direct the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the nuclear energy industry.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Director of the Department of Energy (the Director) shall identify and develop training resources to advance the nuclear energy industry in the Commonwealth, including the development of nuclear energy careers and training curriculum, such as pre-hire soft skills training and technical skills training, for nuclear plant operations, nuclear engineering and design, radiation protection, nuclear security, maintenance trades, manufacturing trades, and other skilled trades supporting nuclear energy development.

As part of such curriculum, the Director shall assess the availability of nuclear energy developers, reactor technology vendors, nuclear service providers, and supply chain firms that operate within the Commonwealth and, following such assessment, consider establishing training programs aligned with Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements and industry standards, including training on radiation safety fundamentals, nuclear quality assurance, plant operations, emergency preparedness, and security protocols for nuclear energy industry workers.

Training resources for veterans, local workers, and workers from historically economically disadvantaged communities, as defined in §
56-576
of the Code of Virginia, shall be prioritized. In developing such training resources, the Director shall consult with public and private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, vocational-technical institutions, apprenticeship programs, and at least one historically black college or university, as defined in §
2.2-1604
of the Code of Virginia.

Funding for developing such training resources may include existing sources of local, state, or federal funding and grant resources for the purposes of identifying and developing skills required to support workforce development in the nuclear energy industry and expand the nuclear energy industry in the Commonwealth. Any training resources developed pursuant to this act shall be developed in coordination with relevant federal programs, including programs administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as well as regional workforce development initiatives.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.