Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
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2025 SENATE BILL 124
March 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Bradley, Feyen and Quinn, cosponsored by Representatives Steffen, Sortwell, Armstrong, Callahan, Dittrich, Green, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Snyder, Subeck and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Utilities and Tourism.

An Act to repeal 15.77, 20.192 (1) (e) and 238.157; to create 15.77, 20.192 (1) (e) and 238.157 of the statutes; relating to: creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a State of Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in the city of Madison to advance nuclear power and fusion energy technology and development and to showcase Wisconsin’s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry. The bill specifies that the board must hold the summit no later than one month after instruction commences at the new college of engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and shall ensure that summit participants have access to the new building. The bill creates an appropriation for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and requires WEDC to expend any moneys appropriated at the direction of and in support of the board’s efforts. Under the bill, the board is exempt from state requirements for public notice of proposed contracts, competitive bidding, and contractual service procurement procedures.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. 15.77 of the statutes is created to read:
15.77 Nuclear power summit board. (1) There is created a nuclear power summit board. The board consists of the voting members described in sub. (2) and the nonvoting members appointed under sub. (3) who shall serve for the duration of the board’s existence.
(2) The board shall include as voting members all of the following:
(a) Two senators, one appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
(b) Two representatives to the assembly, one appointed by the speaker of the assembly and one appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
(c) The chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or the chief executive officer’s designee.
(d) One member appointed by the governor.
(3) In addition to the voting members specified in sub. (2), the board shall include as nonvoting members all of the following appointed by the chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation:
(a) One member who is a representative of the Nuclear Energy Institute, or its successor.
(b) One member who is a representative of the Fusion Industry Association, or its successor.
(c) One member who is a faculty member of the department of nuclear engineering and engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

(d) Any other members appointed by the chief executive officer in the chief executive officer’s discretion.
(4) At its first meeting, the board shall elect a chairperson as the board’s only officer.
(5) The board shall meet at least one time in 2025 and at least 3 times each year thereafter.
Section 2. 15.77 of the statutes, as created by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.
Section 3. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
- See PDF for table
Section 4. 20.192 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
20.192 (1) (e) Nuclear power summit board; support. As a continuing appropriation, the amounts in the schedule to support the nuclear power summit board’s work under s. 238.157.
Section 5. 20.192 (1) (e) of the statutes, as created by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.
Section 6. 238.157 of the statutes is created to read:

238.157 Organizing and hosting a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (1) In this section, “board” means the nuclear power summit board.
(2) The board shall organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in the city of Madison to provide participants with education and information sharing opportunities designed to advance nuclear power and fusion energy technology and development and to showcase Wisconsin’s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry. The board shall hold the summit no later than one month after instruction commences at the college of engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison enumerated under 2023 Wisconsin Act 19, section 9104 (1) (i) 3. ed. and 4g. a., as created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 102, sections 4 and 6, and shall ensure that summit participants have access to the building. The board may establish registration fees for the summit that vary based on admittance level and may allow attendees who are residents of this state to attend the summit without paying registration fees.
(3) From the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (e), the corporation shall expend moneys at the direction of the board and in support of the board’s work under this section and may expend moneys to provide administrative support to the board.
(4) Sections 16.705 and 16.75 (1) to (5) do not apply to the board.
(5) The board’s meetings shall be open and all records of such meetings and of all proceedings of the board shall be open to inspection in accordance with subchs. II and V of ch. 19. The corporation shall advise and assist the board in complying with the board’s obligations under subchs. II and V of ch. 19.
(6) The board shall complete its duties and cease to exist no later than 180
days after the completion of the summit described under sub. (2). Upon its termination, the board shall disburse any remaining property to the department of nuclear engineering and engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin- Madison for the benefit of the nuclear engineering program.
Section 7. 238.157 of the statutes, as created by 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed.
Section 8. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later, except as follows:
(1) The repeal of ss. 15.77, 20.192 (1) (e), and 238.157 takes effect on July 1, 2030.
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