HB 1461

This bill authorizes the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to become the sole regulatory authority for advanced nuclear reactors in Florida, including both nuclear fusion and improved fission reactor designs that feature enhanced safety, efficiency, or environmental benefits compared to pre-2021 commercial reactors. The legislation empowers the PSC to evaluate and approve reactor designs, issue permits for nuclear materials handling, and establish safety standards, while requiring coordination with the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Protection for certain functions like laboratory certification. The bill also modifies existing energy statutes to incorporate advanced nuclear technology into Florida's renewable energy policy framework and updates power plant siting criteria, effectively creating a state-level regulatory pathway for the development and deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors that would otherwise fall under federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission jurisdiction.