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)) (as amended by section 6209) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(28) Assistance to provide water and wastewater services in financially distressed rural areas
(A) Definitions. In this paragraph:
(i) Distressed water system. The term distressed water system means an association described in paragraph (1) that—
(I) is unable to provide water and wastewater services to the residents of an eligible area because the association—
(aa) lacks the capacity—
(AA) to operate, maintain, or manage water and wastewater facilities or services; or
(BB) to provide for the continued availability and use of those facilities or services at reasonable user rates and charges; or
(bb) lacks the financial, technical, or managerial capability to consistently comply with pertinent Federal and State laws and requirements; and
(II) voluntarily agrees to the provision of water or wastewater services in the eligible area described in subclause (I) by an eligible association the service area of which is contiguous to, or in the locality of, the eligible area.
(ii) Eligible area. The term eligible area means a rural area that is a low-income community or an economically distressed area, as determined by the Secretary.
(iii) Eligible association. The term eligible association means an association described in paragraph (1) that—
(I) currently receives, or is eligible for, assistance under a rural water or wastewater program; and
(II) is experienced in, and currently, providing functioning water and wastewater services to the residents of a rural area.
(iv) Rural water or wastewater program. The term rural water or wastewater program means a water or wastewater program under this subsection.
(B) Assistance
(i) Financial assistance. The Secretary may provide financial assistance under a rural water or wastewater program to an eligible association for construction costs relating to providing water and wastewater services to the residents in the service area of a distressed water system that is contiguous to, or in the locality of, the service area of the eligible association.
(ii) Technical assistance grants. The Secretary may provide grants to qualified nonprofit technical assistance organizations with demonstrated experience in working with rural communities on regionalization, consolidation, and independent assessment, planning, and implementation projects to provide technical assistance to—
(I) an eligible association for the purpose of providing water and wastewater services to the residents in the service area of a distressed water system that is contiguous to, or in the locality of, the service area of the eligible association; and
(II) a distressed water system in deciding whether to voluntarily agree to allow an eligible association to provide the services described in subclause (I).
(C) Consolidation and regionalization
(i) In general. For purposes of providing water and wastewater services using assistance provided under subparagraph (B), an eligible association and a distressed water system may—
(I) consolidate governance, management, and financial functions; or
(II) enter into a regional partnership.
(ii) Effect on population limitation. If an eligible association and a distressed water system consolidate or enter into a regional partnership pursuant to clause (i), the Secretary shall only consider the population of the service area of the distressed water system for purposes of eligibility for assistance under subparagraph (B).
(iii) Use of systems. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible association may use assistance provided under subparagraph (B) to provide water or wastewater services to the service area of a distressed water system using—
(I) the system of the eligible association;
(II) a system located in the service area of the distressed water system; or
(III) a combination of both systems.
(D) Limitation. An eligible association that receives financial assistance under subparagraph (B)(i) shall only use that assistance for the benefit of the residents in the service area of the distressed water system.
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