A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.
Sponsored By: Senator Cory Booker
Introduced
Summary
Expands rural financing for household water wells and decentralized wastewater systems. This bill would let the Agriculture Secretary give grants to private nonprofits so they can make loans and subgrants for building, repairing, and servicing individually owned household water and wastewater systems in rural areas.
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- Families with the lowest incomes can get subgrants. Individuals in households under 60% of the local nonmetropolitan median income, as measured by the most recent decennial census, are eligible for subgrants to cover construction, refurbishing, or service costs.
- Moderate‑income households can access loans. Households between 60% and 100% of the area median can get loans, and the maximum loan amount is raised from $15,000 to $20,000.
- Nonprofit service providers gain formal grant access. Private nonprofit organizations can receive federal grants to operate these loan and subgrant programs within their service areas.
- Adds a warranty funding option for wastewater systems. The bill authorizes funding to pay for a performance warranty on household decentralized wastewater systems for at least 5 years.
- Extends the program reference year to 2031. A statutory date in the program text is replaced with 2031, lengthening the period the program covers.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher nonprofit loans for rural homeowners
If enacted, the bill would raise the maximum nonprofit loan from $15,000 to $20,000. You would be able to borrow up to $20,000 for one project under the nonprofit loan program. This change would take effect upon enactment.
Grants for rural household water systems
If enacted, the bill would let the Agriculture Secretary give grants to private nonprofits. Those nonprofits could make subgrants and loans to people for building, fixing, or servicing private rural water wells and home decentralized wastewater systems. Subgrants would be for households with combined income under 60% of the area's nonmetropolitan median (from the most recent census). Loans would be for households with combined income between 60% and 100% of that median. A subgrant for a household wastewater system could include money to pay for a performance warranty of at least five years. Applicants must live in the nonprofit's service area and the system must be or become owned by the individual. The bill would also replace a statutory date reference of 2023 with 2031.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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