Summary of HR 6805 (2025)

Overview

HR 6805 is a House bill introduced on December 17, 2025, that seeks to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to broaden the scope of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The primary aim is to enable testing and development of a wider range of nuclear reactor technologies, specifically fourth-generation reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and micro-reactors, along with other related purposes.

What the bill would do

• Expand the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program established under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include:
  • Fourth-generation nuclear reactors
  • Small modular reactors (SMRs)
  • Micro-reactors
• Broaden the program’s scope to support demonstration, testing, and development activities for these reactor technologies.
• Potentially align regulatory, funding, and oversight mechanisms to accommodate a broader set of reactor concepts beyond current advanced reactor demonstrations.

Key provisions (based on available information)

• Authorization to test and develop 4th-generation reactors, SMRs, and micro-reactors under a revised demonstration program.
• Expansion of purposes related to advanced reactor demonstration beyond the original scope of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
• Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for consideration (as of the 2025-12-17 actions).

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s stated aim to broaden scope. Specific legislative text, funding levels, eligibility criteria, safety and licensing requirements, cost-sharing, timelines, and the programmatic design are not provided in the information you supplied. Those details would be found in the bill’s full text and committee reports.

Who would be affected

• Federal programs and agencies involved in advanced nuclear energy, particularly those administering the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
• Nuclear developers and technology developers pursuing fourth-generation reactors, SMRs, or micro-reactors seeking federal demonstration support.
• Regulators and safety oversight entities interfacing with the expanded demonstration activities.
• Regions and communities hosting demonstration projects could see economic and workforce development implications tied to demonstration activities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced in the House: December 17, 2025.
• Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on December 17, 2025.
• Status: Introduced and undergoing committee consideration (as of the information provided).

Potential impact and considerations

• Could accelerate demonstration and commercialization pathways for a broader set of advanced reactor technologies.
• May alter funding priorities and collaboration between federal programs and private industry.
• Safety, licensing, and environmental review processes would need to accommodate the expanded technology scope.
• Legislative outcomes will hinge on the detailed text, including funding, milestones, and oversight provisions.

Next steps for readers

• Review the full text of HR 6805 and any committee reports for precise provisions, funding authorizations, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor discussions and amendments in the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for changes to scope, timelines, and oversight.