A proposal aimed at reigniting nuclear energy development in Texas cleared its first major legislative hurdle Tuesday, as the Texas House of Representatives approved House Bill 14, a measure that would create a new state office and funding mechanism to support advanced nuclear projects.
The bill, authored by Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), sailed through on a voice vote, signaling broad bipartisan support despite some early dissent. HB 14 would establish the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, tasked with coordinating the state’s efforts to foster next-generation nuclear development. It also proposes a dedicated funding stream within the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to provide grants to companies developing new nuclear reactors.
“This is about Texas leading, not following,” said Harris. “Today, the Texas House resoundingly recognized that we are in a race with China and Russia to become the worldwide leader in advanced nuclear deployment, and that Texas must win that race.”
He touted the economic upside of the bill, claiming it would generate thousands of well-paying jobs and spur a level of economic growth that could transform the state’s energy landscape. The bill also includes a provision for workforce development — aimed at building a trained labor pool to support the nuclear sector.
Texas has not built a new large-scale nuclear power plant since the 1970s. Across the U.S., nuclear expansion has largely stalled due to the immense upfront costs, complex regulatory requirements, and notoriously long construction timelines. But proponents believe the emergence of small modular reactors (SMRs) — compact and more flexible systems — could make nuclear a viable option again, especially for fast-growing states like Texas that are grappling with grid reliability challenges.
Despite the momentum, not everyone is on board.
Rep. John Bryant (D-Dallas) raised concerns about nuclear waste — a politically sensitive issue in Texas, where a 2021 law banned storage of high-level radioactive waste. “We cannot pursue nuclear energy without addressing where the waste will go,” he warned.
Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), a staunch fiscal conservative, criticized the use of public funds to subsidize private-sector nuclear development. “I support innovation, but not on the backs of Texas taxpayers,” he said during debate.
The Texas Senate has been weighing its own version of nuclear legislation — Senate Bill 2967 — through its Business & Commerce Committee. While senators have echoed support for a nuclear revival, they’ve expressed greater caution about dipping into the TEF, which was originally set up to shore up Texas’ grid following the deadly 2021 winter storm.
Still, momentum appears to be building on both sides of the Capitol, especially after Governor Greg Abbott threw his weight behind nuclear, calling for a “nuclear power renaissance” in Texas earlier this year.
With both chambers aligned in principle, the final outcome will likely hinge on negotiations over funding and regulatory specifics.
The bill now heads toward conference discussions between the House and Senate, where lawmakers will work out differences between their versions. If they can come to agreement, HB 14 would be one of the most significant energy policy shifts in Texas in decades — potentially reshaping the state’s power grid and economy for the nuclear age.
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