H.R. 7530: Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026
This bill, known as the Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026, aims to provide additional support to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems. Here are the main components of what the bill proposes:
Eligibility for Assistance
- An "eligible entity" refers to rural facilities involved in providing water, wastewater, or waste disposal services that can receive assistance under various sections of an existing law.
Types of Assistance
The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to offer various forms of financial support:
- Grants and Loans: Eligible entities may receive grants or low-interest loans (including zero percent interest loans).
- Modification of Existing Loans: The Secretary can forgive or modify the terms of existing loans to help these eligible entities.
- Refinancing Options: Entities can refinance parts or the entirety of loans for eligible projects.
Purpose of Assistance
The bill outlines that assistance can be provided for the following purposes:
- To ensure eligible entities can maintain public health, safety, or order.
- To assist entities facing financial hardships, particularly those in disadvantaged or economically distressed areas.
Criteria for Financial Distress
To determine if an entity qualifies for assistance due to financial hardship, the Secretary is required to establish:
- A measure of the affordability of water services in various areas, based on costs related to household income.
- Other factors that indicate whether an area is disadvantaged or economically distressed.
Summary of Impacts
The legislation is intended to improve the reliability and efficacy of water and waste management services in rural regions, potentially allowing for better resource management and improvements in public health and environmental standards.
Relevant Companies
- GE: General Electric could be impacted due to its involvement in water treatment technologies.
- XYL: Xylem Inc. specializes in water technologies that may see increased demand from rural areas benefiting from this bill.
- ITT: ITT Inc. provides fluid management solutions, which might be relevant to rural water systems.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
2 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Feb. 12, 2026 | Introduced in House |
| Feb. 12, 2026 | Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. |
Corporate Lobbying
0 companies lobbying
None found.
* Note that there can be significant delays in lobbying disclosures, and our data may be incomplete.
