S. 5526
Agricultural Act of 2026
Sponsor: John Boozman · 0 cosponsors
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Text of the bill
I Commodities
A Commodity Policy
B Dairy
C Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance
D Administration
II Conservation
A Conservation Reserve Program
B Environmental Quality Incentives Program
C Conservation Stewardship Program
D Funding and administration
E Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
F Regional Conservation Partnership Program
G Forest Conservation Easement Program
H Other Conservation programs
III Trade
A Food for Peace Act
B Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
C Other agricultural trade laws
D Reports
IV Nutrition
A Supplemental nutrition assistance program
B Commodity distribution programs
C Miscellaneous
V Credit
A Farm Credit System
B Farm ownership and operating loans
C Administrative provisions
VI Rural Development
A Rural Electrification Act of 1936
I Rural broadband access
II Additional amendments
B Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (22) the following:
(23) Rural water and wastewater cybersecurity circuit rider program
(A) In general. The Secretary shall establish a cybersecurity circuit rider program, which shall be structured similar to the general authorities under paragraph (22), to provide technical assistance to associations described in paragraph (1) that operate rural water or wastewater systems—
(i) to provide rapid assessments of the current ability or inability of those associations—
(I) to respond to cybersecurity threats; and
(II) to protect the cyberinfrastructure of those associations and public health;
(ii) to develop reasonable protocols to enhance cybersecurity protection;
(iii) to provide assistance to address inadequate cyber protection plans; and
(iv) to document the state of cyber protection with respect to the water supplies of those associations.
(B) Report requirement. An entity or entities delivering the circuit rider program that receive funding under this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary an annual report documenting—
(i) the utilities and communities served by the entity or entities under this paragraph; and
(ii) the activities performed by the entity or entities under this paragraph.
(C) Requirements for circuit riders. To provide technical assistance under subparagraph (A), an entity shall possess the necessary experience and certification to effectively carry out the activities described in that subparagraph, as determined by the Secretary.
(D) Authorization of appropriations. In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(E) Continuity of essential cybersecurity circuit rider activities. Activities carried out under this paragraph that are necessary to prevent imminent harm to life or property shall be treated as excepted activities and may continue during a lapse in appropriations, using unobligated balances previously appropriated under the heading Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Account.
C Miscellaneous
I Rural care economy
II Other miscellaneous provisions
VII Research, Extension, and Related Matters
A National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
B Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
C Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
D Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
I Agricultural security
II Miscellaneous provisions
E Other Matters
VIII Forestry
A Forest data modernization
B Forest health and management
I Forest Service management
II State and private partnerships
III Timber innovation
C Forest conservation
D Land designations
E White oak resilience
F Other matters
IX Energy
X Horticulture
A Horticulture marketing and information
B Regulatory reform
XI Crop insurance
XII Miscellaneous
A Livestock
B National security
C Fertilizer
D United States grain standards reauthorization
E Year-Round E15 and RFS reform
F Other miscellaneous provisions