Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Davis (NC)
Introduced
Summary
Additional assistance for rural water systems. This bill would create a new program that offers targeted grants, very low‑interest loans, and loan relief to eligible rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal facilities.
Show full summary
- Rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal facilities that qualify under the listed water programs could receive a grant or a very low interest loan, including 0% or 1% interest, to pay for eligible projects.
- Communities facing high water costs get a clear test for need. The Secretary must calculate a residential affordability indicator that shows water cost per household as a share of median household income and use other factors to identify disadvantaged or economically distressed areas.
- The Secretary may forgive principal or interest, change loan terms, or refinance qualifying outstanding loans to help maintain public health and safety or address financial hardship. The Secretary cannot use those relief powers on loans made under the program's initial grant or loan option.
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
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More help for rural water systems
This bill would add a new USDA program to help rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal facilities. The USDA would be able to give grants, 0% interest loans, or 1% interest loans to eligible entities. The USDA would also be able to forgive principal or interest, change loan terms, or refinance other eligible loans whose purpose is allowed. The USDA would not be allowed to forgive, modify, or refinance loans made under this new program's own grants or 0%/1% loans. Help would target systems that must maintain public health, safety, or order, or that face financial hardship in disadvantaged or economically distressed areas. The Secretary would set a household affordability indicator (cost per household as a percent of median household income) and other factors to identify disadvantaged areas. An "eligible entity" would mean a rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility eligible under sections 306(a), 306A, 306C, or 306D.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Cosponsors
Johnson (SD)
SD • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov