HB 2774 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

technical correction; certificate; environmental compatibility

HB 2774 amends Arizona law to clarify that utility companies can replace wires or structures on existing transmission lines without needing a new environmental review, provided the line previously had an environmental certificate or was built before August 13, 1971. This applies specifically to routine maintenance on lines already approved under Arizona’s environmental compatibility process. Utilities must still follow the terms of the existing environmental certificate for any replacements. The bill directly affects electric utilities planning infrastructure updates on older transmission systems, reducing administrative steps for these specific repairs.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Vetoed

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Vetoed Apr 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Apr 16, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Arizona's environmental compatibility certificate process to specifically include small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). It creates a new exemption allowing SMRs to be built without a certificate if they are co-located with large industrial energy users, and adds definitions for these terms to the state code.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of environmental review exemptions to include small modular nuclear reactors, which were not previously addressed in the existing certificate process for utility facilities.

SCOPE

Added explicit provisions for small modular nuclear reactors in the environmental compatibility certificate process.

ELIGIBILITY

Created an exemption allowing SMRs to be constructed without a certificate if co-located with a large industrial energy user that received zoning entitlements.

DEFINITION

Established new definitions for 'small modular nuclear reactor', 'large industrial energy user', and 'colocated with' to be adopted by the Corporation Commission.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the existing certificate process to include a new subsection specifically addressing SMR construction and replacement scenarios.

Added a new section requiring the Commission to adopt rules defining distance between facilities, energy demand thresholds, and other technical criteria for SMR exemptions.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 18, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

executive

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA/SE

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors