MORE American Fuel Act of 2026
Latest action (16 Sep 2026): Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
S. 5249, the MORE American Fuel Act of 2026, would amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to change how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses uranium enrichment facilities. Under current law, an applicant must obtain NRC approval before beginning construction. The bill would let an applicant start building an enrichment facility after the NRC dockets the license application but before operating approval is granted, provided the work complies with all applicable federal laws and is done entirely at the applicant's own risk. It also restructures the hearing process, allowing any person affected by a facility's operation to request a hearing and be admitted as a party, while removing the separate construction-related hearing step.
The change primarily affects companies seeking to build new uranium enrichment plants, as well as state governors, local governments, and Native American tribes near a proposed site, who would be entitled to written notice at least 15 days before construction begins. It does not remove the NRC's authority to deny an operating license if construction wasn't done properly, or to regulate construction as needed for licensing and oversight.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2026, by Sen. Mark Kelly with Sen. Cynthia Lummis as a cosponsor, and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. It would need to be approved by that committee, then pass the full Senate and House, and be signed by the President before becoming law. If enacted, the NRC would have 180 days to issue implementing regulations.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on September 16, 2026.
Timeline
16 Sep 2026
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 5249 do?
- S. 5249, the MORE American Fuel Act of 2026, would amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to change how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses uranium enrichment facilities. Under current law, an applicant must obtain NRC approval before beginning construction. The bill would let an applicant start building an enrichment facility after the NRC dockets the license application but before operating approval is granted, provided the work complies with all applicable federal laws and is done entirely at the applicant's own risk. It also restructures the hearing process, allowing any person affected by a facility's operation to request a hearing and be admitted as a party, while removing the separate construction-related hearing step. The change primarily affects companies seeking to build new uranium enrichment plants, as well as state governors, local governments, and Native American tribes near a proposed site, who would be entitled to written notice at least 15 days before construction begins. It does not remove the NRC's authority to deny an operating license if construction wasn't done properly, or to regulate construction as needed for licensing and oversight. The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2026, by Sen. Mark Kelly with Sen. Cynthia Lummis as a cosponsor, and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. It would need to be approved by that committee, then pass the full Senate and House, and be signed by the President before becoming law. If enacted, the NRC would have 180 days to issue implementing regulations.
- Has S. 5249 become law?
- Not yet. As of 16 Sep 2026, S. 5249 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 5249?
- S. 5249 was sponsored by Sen. Mark Kelly [D-AZ] (Democrat-AZ), with 3 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5249?
- Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (16 Sep 2026).
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