Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7530 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7530 To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide additional assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 12, 2026 Mr. Davis of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Johnson of South Dakota) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to provide additional assistance to rural water, wastewater, and waste disposal systems, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS. Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended by inserting after section 306A (7 U.S.C. 1926a) the following: ``SEC. 306B. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS. ``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible entity' means a rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facility with respect to which assistance may be provided under a water, wastewater, or waste disposal program under section 306(a), 306A, 306C, or 306D. ``(b) Additional Assistance.-- ``(1) Grants and loans.--The Secretary may provide a grant, a zero percent interest loan, or a 1 percent interest loan to an eligible entity. ``(2) Existing loans.--The Secretary may-- ``(A) forgive principal or interest or modify any term or condition of an outstanding loan made to an eligible entity; or ``(B) refinance part or all of any other loan (