HB 2456 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

small modular reactors; zoning; co-location

HB 2456 removes zoning restrictions for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Arizona when they are colocated with a large industrial energy user that already has all required zoning approvals. It requires SMR developers to provide public notice and hold at least one public comment session in the affected county before construction. This bill directly affects SMR developers seeking to build facilities adjacent to existing industrial energy sites. The law does not create new regulations for SMRs but eliminates local zoning barriers under these specific conditions.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Jun 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version (03/03/2026) · 3 edits · Apr 15, 2026

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace the term 'large industrial energy user' with 'extra high load factor customer' and to add a specific definition for 'small modular nuclear reactor' as a Generation III+ or IV unit with a capacity of 300 megawatts or less. These changes clarify the eligibility criteria for co-located nuclear projects and standardize the technical definitions used by the Corporation Commission.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding small modular reactors was narrowed by adding a specific capacity limit (300 MW) and a new technical definition, while the definition of qualifying industrial partners was updated to use more precise regulatory terminology.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'large industrial energy user' with 'extra high load factor customer' to align with specific regulatory definitions.

Added a new definition for 'small modular nuclear reactor' specifying it must be a Generation III+ or IV unit with a nameplate rating not exceeding 300 megawatts.

SCOPE

Updated the scope of the zoning exemption for small modular reactors to explicitly include the new generation and capacity constraints.

Floor votes · House Jun 9, 2026

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

Jun 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA/SE

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors