Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative DelBene
Introduced
Summary
Establishes a coordinated federal push to fund, standardize, and secure smart city technologies. It creates an OSTP‑led Interagency Council, competitive regional demos and workforce pilots, and programs to promote standards and international market access for smart city tech.
Show full summary
- Local governments and communities: Small, mid‑sized, rural, and Tribal governments can compete for regional demonstration grants that cover up to 50% of technology costs. The demonstration program is authorized at $100 million per year for 2026–2030 and requires grant outputs to be royalty‑free and publicly available.
- Workers and training programs: The Department of Labor must deliver a workforce needs assessment within 180 days and run a five‑year TechHire pilot that funds industry‑aligned training leading to credentials. Grants are capped at $5 million per year and the pilot has $100 million authorized for 2026–2030.
- Industry, standards, and international markets: NIST and a Cybersecurity Working Group will push interoperability and IoT security guidance and voluntary standards. Commerce and DOE get programs to help firms export smart city tech and partner with national labs, backed by DOE and global best practice authorizations of $20 million per year each for 2026–2030.
*Authorizes up to $800 million in federal funding across 2026–2030, increasing federal outlays over that period.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Local grants to test smart city tech
The Commerce Department would run competitive grants for cities and counties to test smart city tech. Grants could pay up to 50% of project costs; the agency could waive this match. Winners would have to share data and materials openly, royalty‑free and at no cost. The bill authorizes $100 million each year for FY2026–FY2030. Applications would need to support interoperable, transparent data sharing across partners.
Grants for tech job training
Within 18 months, the Labor Department would launch a TechHire pilot for tech job training. Grants could be up to $5 million per recipient per year, with at least a 25% non‑federal match. Programs would award industry‑recognized credentials and could serve youth 16–24 and people facing job barriers. Priority would go to efforts tied to workforce boards, colleges or apprenticeships, veterans groups, and strong support services. The bill authorizes $100 million each year for FY2026–FY2030, and Labor would report results every two years. Separately, Labor would deliver a smart‑city workforce needs assessment within 180 days.
Energy help and lab vouchers for cities
The Energy Department would offer technical help and pilot vouchers so cities can adopt smart city tech. Vouchers could be used at any National Laboratory. For pilots with socially or economically disadvantaged small‑business partners, the agency could waive certain funding rules. Guidance would pay attention to small and mid‑sized cities, counties, and Tribal governments. The bill authorizes $20 million each year for FY2026–FY2030.
Federal smart city plan and guide
The White House science office and Commerce would co‑lead a Federal Council to coordinate smart city work. The Council would set a multiyear plan, and agencies would share data for six years. Commerce would send Congress a report every two years on programs, budgets, and project results. Starting one year after enactment, the government would post a free online Smart City Resource Guide and keep it for at least six years, with help for Tribal, rural, and underserved places. The bill also defines key terms like “smart city,” “equity,” and who the “Secretary” is, which would guide how these pieces run.
Cyber tools and standards for city tech
Commerce would convene a city‑focused Cybersecurity Working Group with consumer groups, local governments, makers, network experts, and law enforcement. It would build tools to test and protect smart city systems and study whether IoT security standards should be voluntary or required. Separately, the National Institute of Standards and Technology would review existing standards and create a common framework for data sharing, privacy, and security. The framework would push interoperable, voluntary, and technology‑neutral standards that work across countries.
Boost U.S. smart city exports
Commerce, with State and other partners, would run trade missions and other efforts to boost U.S. smart city tech exports. It would work with USAID, the Development Finance Corporation, and the Export‑Import Bank to identify financing for overseas deals with U.S. firms. The bill also authorizes $20 million each year for FY2026–FY2030 to fund global best‑practice sharing and partnerships that help U.S. communities. Those funds could not go to foreign governments or foreign companies, except U.S. subsidiaries. Activities could include grants, challenges, and public‑private partnerships.
Study ways to fund city projects
Within one year, the Government Accountability Office would study how cities can pay for smart city projects. It would list current tools, including pay‑for‑performance, and new ideas under development. The study would flag procurement barriers for states and cities and ways to draw in private investment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
DelBene
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov