Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005

This bill, known as the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005, extends and updates the national system for handling insurance and legal liability in the event of a nuclear accident. It ensures that nuclear power plants continue to have a framework for providing financial compensation to the public for personal injury or property damage, while also capping the total amount of money the industry is required to pay.

For everyday citizens, the bill increases the maximum amount of "emergency" premiums that nuclear plant owners must pay into a shared compensation fund if a major incident occurs, raising the per-reactor limit to approximately $95.8 million. It also extends the government's authority to oversee these insurance requirements through 2025, ensuring that newer facilities are covered by the same liability rules as older ones. While the act aims to provide a clear path for victims to receive payments without lengthy lawsuits, it also limits the industry's total financial risk to encourage continued investment in nuclear energy.