Utilities & Power

Ratepayer Protection Act

Gabe Evans (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a federal standard requiring electric utilities to charge large-load customers, defined as non-residential users of facilities that primarily run data storage and computing systems with an aggregate peak demand of 100 megawatts or more at a single site or campus, the full incremental cost of any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrades needed to serve them, including if they later end their contract. Utilities would also have to require financial assurances or contributions from these customers before building such upgrades, and state regulators and nonregulated utilities would have to begin considering the standard within one year and make a determination on it within two years unless the state already implemented or considered a comparable rule. This bill requires electric utilities, both regulated and nonregulated, to charge very large data center customers the full cost of grid upgrades built to serve them, obtain financial assurances from them first, and run proceedings to consider and adopt this rate standard.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill under suspension of the rules on September 16, 2026 by a vote of 417 to 3, and it is now pending in the Senate, which must pass identical text before anything can go to the President. It was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 684 on September 24, 2026, but on September 30, 2026 a motion to proceed to its consideration was withdrawn in the Senate.

SECURE Grid Act

Robert E. Latta (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

State energy security plans would have to address potential hazards to local distribution systems, meaning electric utility infrastructure at 100 kilovolts or less, including physical attacks, cybersecurity threats, and supply chain risks for electricity equipment, and supplying generation, transmission, and distribution equipment would become an eligible use of federal financial assistance under the program. The federal government would be required rather than merely allowed to provide that assistance to states that submit plans, the planning program would expire on September 30, 2031, and a government watchdog would report by September 30, 2030 on how well state energy security plans work. This bill requires states to include physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience plans for electric utilities' local distribution systems, raising planning and compliance work for electric utilities while clarifying threats to grid equipment suppliers.

Where it stands

The House passed the SECURE Grid Act by voice vote under suspension of the rules on June 29, 2026, so the bill is no longer before the House and now sits with the Senate. At its September 30, 2026 markup, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered the bill reported favorably without amendment.

Bolts Ditch Act

Joe Neguse (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend federal law to add the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, along with a Colorado special district, to the list of entities eligible to complete maintenance work on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate. The maintenance work would be within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado. This bill lets the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority, both public water utilities, legally perform required maintenance on Bolts Ditch and its headgate in the Holy Cross Wilderness.

Where it stands

HR1729 passed the House by voice vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill on July 14, 2025, and was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on July 15, 2025. The bill is no longer before the House; the Senate must pass identical text before anything can go to the President.

Load Forecasting Enhancement Act

Troy Balderson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create temporary regional joint boards, made up of one representative from each state utility commission in a region plus a Commission member as chair, to study best practices for electric load forecasting and report recommendations to Congress within one year, after which the boards would terminate. It would also add a federal standard requiring load-forecasting procedures to incorporate those recommendations, with state regulators required to open consideration within one year and make a determination within two years, while exempting nonregulated utilities and states that already implemented a comparable standard or held a proceeding on one, and it would let states include load-forecasting improvement programs in their state energy conservation plans. This bill directs regulated electric utilities to adopt federal load-forecasting recommendations through a state consideration process, while exempting nonregulated electric utilities and letting states fund forecasting improvements in conservation plans.

Where it stands

The House passed the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 15, 2026, and the Senate received it and referred it to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 16, 2026. The bill is no longer before the House and now sits entirely in the Senate's hands, which must pass identical text before anything can go to the President.

Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

David McCormick (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would rewrite and extend the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, directing the Energy Department to keep providing technical help and competitive or noncompetitive grants to rural cooperatives, municipal utilities, certain nonprofit partnerships, and small investor-owned utilities under 4 million megawatt hours per year, with priority for utilities that have limited cybersecurity resources, own bulk-power system assets, or operate defense-critical infrastructure. It would also exempt cybersecurity information shared under the program from public disclosure laws and authorize $250 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, subject to congressional approval of the money. This bill renews a $250 million federal program giving rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and small investor-owned utilities grants, technical assistance, and priority funding to strengthen their cybersecurity, and shields shared security information from disclosure laws.

Where it stands

Following a September 16, 2026 hearing, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources at its September 30, 2026 markup ordered S5360 reported favorably without amendment. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement is on the record.

High-Capacity Grid Act

Julie Fedorchak (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make public utilities use transmission conductors that it designates as the highest-capacity, most efficient, and best-performing commercially available type on new or majorly upgraded transmission projects, with rules to be set within a year of enactment. Utilities could still use other conductors for projects already permitted or under procurement before enactment, emergency repairs after disasters, cases where the mandate would hurt safety or reliability, and cases where the utility shows it would significantly raise electricity costs without a matching performance gain. This bill requires public utilities to use federally designated high-capacity transmission conductors on new or majorly upgraded transmission projects, allowing exemptions for emergencies, reliability, or cost spikes, and could raise equipment costs for utilities.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 15, 2026, and it was received in the Senate on September 16, 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The bill is now pending in the Senate, where identical text must pass before anything can go to the President.

South Dakota Water Feasibility Studies Act

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Interior Department to run feasibility studies for three proposed Missouri River rural water supply projects, the Western Dakota Regional Water System, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System expansion, and the Dakota Mainstem project, and report to Congress on whether each should be built, with the federal share of each study capped at $10 million and at 50 percent of study costs and the authority expiring 7 years after enactment. The Western Dakota and Lewis and Clark systems would have to share study costs under required cost-sharing agreements, and any future construction recommended in the reports would need separate congressional authorization and a nonfederal contribution of at least 25 percent of construction costs. This bill directs the Interior Department to share up to half the cost, capped at $10 million each, of feasibility studies for three Missouri River regional water projects, giving South Dakota nonprofit water utilities federal funding they would otherwise pay alone.

Where it stands

HR9785 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 20, 2026, and at a markup on September 15, 2026 the committee ordered the bill reported in the nature of a substitute by unanimous consent. That committee vote is itself the report-out event, though no written report or calendar placement appears on the record yet.

Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026

Kathy Castor (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the Department of Energy's Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyberresilience Program for 2027 through 2031 and let the Secretary carry out its threat analysis, information sharing, and mitigation work through an Energy Threat Analysis Center that may be set up at one or more physical locations. It would also make any assistance or information provided under the program entirely discretionary and non-reviewable, exempt program information from public disclosure under federal and state open records laws, exempt the program from federal advisory committee rules, and give the Secretary authority to enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions with public agencies and private organizations, including through expedited contracting procedures. This bill reauthorizes through 2031 the Department of Energy's cyberresilience program, giving electric, gas, and other energy utilities access to a new Energy Threat Analysis Center for threat intelligence sharing, with shared information exempt from public disclosure.

Where it stands

The House passed H.R. 7305 on June 29, 2026 by voice vote under suspension of the rules, as amended, after the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered it reported at its May 12, 2026 markup and placed it on the Union Calendar. The Senate received the bill on July 13, 2026, read it twice, and referred it to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, so the bill is now pending in the Senate.

Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would rewrite the existing Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, keeping the Energy Department program that gives small rural, municipal, and other eligible electric utilities technical help and federal funding, including grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes, to guard against cyberattacks, with priority for utilities that have limited cybersecurity resources or run critical or defense-related grid assets. It would authorize $250 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and would exempt cybersecurity information shared under the program from public records and open government disclosure laws. This bill gives rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and small investor-owned electric utilities federal grants and technical assistance, funded at $250 million through 2031, to improve their cybersecurity defenses.

Where it stands

The House passed H.R. 7266 by voice vote under suspension of the rules on June 29, 2026, and the Senate received it and referred it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on July 13, 2026. The bill is now pending in the Senate, and what happens next depends entirely on that chamber.

Geothermal Energy Advancement Act

Jeff Hurd (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would speed federal geothermal permitting on public lands by requiring the Interior Department to approve or deny pending applications for drilling permits and other authorizations under existing geothermal leases within 60 days of finishing required environmental reviews even while lawsuits are pending, and by extending the oil and gas environmental review shortcuts in the 2005 energy law to geothermal exploration and development. It would also let the department bill geothermal applicants and lease holders for processing and inspection costs through September 2033, create a Geothermal Ombudsman and Permitting Task Force inside the Bureau of Land Management that can reassign staff and pay retention allowances up to 25 percent of base pay, update the federal Gold Book permitting guide for geothermal operations, and tie the 10-year royalty window for geothermal power facilities to the date each facility starts operating. This bill speeds federal geothermal permitting, lets the Interior Department charge processing fees through 2033, and shifts royalty payments to start when a geothermal electric generating facility begins operating, directly affecting geothermal energy developers and operators in the utilities and power industry.

Where it stands

The House passed HR5631 by voice vote under suspension of the rules on June 2, 2026, so the bill is now pending in the Senate. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a markup on July 29, 2026 and reported the bill, and on September 17, 2026 it was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 663.

SECURE Grid Act

Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require states to address physical attacks, cybersecurity threats, and resilience for local electric distribution systems, along with supply chain risks for electricity equipment, in the state energy security plans they submit under federal energy law, and it would require states to consult equipment suppliers as well as utility owners and operators when developing those plans. It would also make federal planning assistance mandatory rather than discretionary, set the program to expire on September 30, 2031, and direct the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress by September 30, 2030 on how well the state plans work. This bill requires states to include physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience measures for electric utilities' local distribution systems in their energy security plans, consult electricity equipment suppliers, and provides mandatory federal funding to support that work.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on September 16, 2026 and, at a markup on September 30, 2026, ordered S. 4166, the SECURE Grid Act, to be reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. That committee vote is the report-out event, so the bill stands in the Senate's reported stage; no written report and no calendar placement appear in the record, and the adopted committee amendment text is pending, so the latest published print remains the operative text on file.

Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026

Randy K. Weber, Sr. (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 would reauthorize federal pipeline safety programs at roughly $183 million to $205 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (plus $30 million to $32 million annually from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, $65 million per year for a new grant program to repair, rehabilitate, or replace natural gas distribution pipelines, and $5 million per year for a voluntary information-sharing system), and it would raise the maximum civil pipeline safety penalties from $200,000 to $341,200 per violation and from $2 million to $3.412 million for related violations. It would also create a new crime carrying up to 10 years in prison for knowingly causing defects in pipeline components or tampering with valves, require review of special permit applications within 18 months, guarantee pipeline operators a formal hearing when a proposed compliance action exceeds $350,000 or a proposed civil penalty is at least $350,000, establish a confidential voluntary data-sharing system whose nonpublic information is shielded from most litigation and discovery, direct states to adopt leading practices in their one-call excavation damage prevention programs, require a federal rule on carbon dioxide pipeline safety within two years, and cap federal grant cost shares at 50 percent generally and 80 percent for systems serving areas with fewer than 50,000 residents. This bill funds natural gas distribution utilities, including municipal, tribal, and cooperative operators, with federal grants covering 50 percent of pipeline repair and replacement costs, rising to 80 percent for systems serving communities under 50,000 residents.

Where it stands

On July 21, 2026 the House Committee on Energy and Commerce ordered HR 9338, the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026, reported in the nature of a substitute by a 41-8 vote at its markup, following markups on June 24, 2026 and July 20, 2026. The bill was referred on June 18, 2026 to both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, no written report has been filed, and no calendar placement appears on the record.

Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act

Craig A. Goldman (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Energy Department to set up a public clearinghouse on advanced transmission technology within a year, covering department-funded projects, available financial assistance, cost-benefit analyses for utilities and ratepayers, and optional technical help for electric utilities, transmission organizations, and state regulators, while stating that neither the department nor federal regulators may force any utility to adopt the technology. It would also exempt department funding for advanced transmission deployment, including loans, grants, and (under an adopted amendment) cooperative agreements, from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, let states count such deployment programs in their energy conservation plans, and require the department to publish optional best practices for reducing wildfire ignition risk from transmission lines. This bill gives electric utilities and transmission organizations a federal clearinghouse, optional technical help, and faster federal funding for advanced transmission technology by exempting that funding from environmental review, while leaving adoption voluntary.

Where it stands

On July 21, 2026 the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, at a markup following sessions on June 24, 2026 and July 20, 2026, voted 39 to 10 to order the bill reported; the committee vote is the report-out event, and no written report or calendar placement appears on the record.

Make Data Centers Pay Act

Eugene Simon Vindman (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Federal Power Act to bar electric utilities from charging ordinary customers any portion of the incremental cost of serving large data centers or high-density computing facilities of 20 megawatts or more, instead requiring those facilities themselves to pay or cover that full cost. It would also let regulators recover more than the incremental cost from such facilities to rebate other customers, keep recovery going even if a facility cancels its contract or stops buying power before costs are recovered, and require facilities to post financial assurances before utilities build new generation, transmission, or distribution capacity for them, with these rules applying only to facilities that interconnect after enactment. This bill protects electric utilities by requiring large data centers of 20 megawatts or more that interconnect after enactment to pay their full incremental infrastructure costs and post financial assurances before utilities build capacity for them.

Where it stands

The Make Data Centers Pay Act (HR 10809) was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 13, 2026 and now sits at the earliest committee stage, with no hearing or markup scheduled in the available calendar data.

Utility Accountability Act

Josh Riley (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require state utility regulators to certify each year to the Energy Secretary whether investor-owned electric utilities meet state performance standards, and when a utility fails, the Secretary would order the state to make that utility give each of its residential customers a bill credit starting at $100 and rising by $100 each year until the utility performs better. The utility would have to charge its investors, not its customers, to cover the cost of those credits, and a state regulator that fails to comply with the Secretary's order could lose federal help such as grants, loans, loan guarantees, and technical assistance. This bill requires investor-owned electric utilities that miss state performance standards to give each residential customer an annual bill credit of at least $100, with investors, not customers, paying the cost.

Where it stands

HR 10804, the Utility Accountability Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 13, 2026 and now awaits a decision by the committee chair on whether to notice a hearing or a markup.

New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act

Jon Husted (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act narrows the definition of a modification under the Clean Air Act by requiring that only changes increasing the maximum hourly emission rate trigger new permitting requirements. It also restricts preconstruction permitting obligations to physical construction of specific emissions units, excluding other on-site activities. This bill benefits electric and other power utilities that operate stationary sources by narrowing what counts as a Clean Air Act modification, so reliability, safety, and pollution control changes avoid new preconstruction permitting unless they raise maximum hourly emissions.

Where it stands

S. 5363 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on August 7, 2026. The bill remains in the committee stage with no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

Julie Fedorchak (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would authorize roughly $1.5 billion in new federal appropriations, adjusted for construction cost inflation, to complete North Dakota water projects, including the Northwest Area Water Supply treatment plant, the McClusky Canal and Missouri River North alternative for eastern North Dakota, the Southwest Pipeline, rural water distribution expansions, and rural water systems for the Spirit Lake, Three Affiliated Tribes, Standing Rock, and Turtle Mountain reservations, plus a feasibility study and possible construction for the Lake Traverse system. It would let the Interior Department shift money among the main projects within a 50 percent cap on any single project, require final engineering reports within two years of enactment, and authorize $75 million, available until spent, for the Natural Resources Trust. This bill authorizes $63 million, as indexed, for North Dakota rural water districts, funding water treatment and distribution systems so water utilities receive federal money that lowers costs for local ratepayers.

Where it stands

HR8006 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on March 19, 2026 and sits there with no further action in the record. In the House, referral is the stage where bills most often die quietly, since the committee chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup.

Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

John Hoeven (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would authorize roughly $1.45 billion in new federal spending for water projects in and around North Dakota, including $637 million for projects such as the Northwest Area Water Supply treatment plant, the McClusky Canal alternative for eastern North Dakota, the Southwest Pipeline, and rural water districts, plus $743 million for rural water systems on the Spirit Lake, Fort Berthold, Standing Rock, and Turtle Mountain Indian Reservations and a Lake Traverse feasibility study, and $75 million for the Natural Resources Trust. It would also allow the Secretary of the Interior to transfer up to 50 percent more than the initial amount among the four State and Tribal projects, require final engineering reports within two years, and adjust the authorized amounts upward for construction-cost inflation. This bill authorizes federal funding, about $1.4 billion total, that pays for water treatment plants, pipelines, and rural water distribution expansion in North Dakota, directly benefiting water and sewage utilities with new construction money.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a markup and voted to report S4040 on June 10, 2026, and the bill was reported on September 17, 2026, placing it under General Orders on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 655. In the Senate, the act of reporting itself calendars the bill, so it now awaits the majority leader's decision on whether to call it up.

HEATS Act

Young Kim (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill exempts geothermal operators on non-federal land from federal drilling permits and environmental reviews if they hold a state permit. It excludes these activities from Endangered Species Act protections and allows work to begin 30 days after filing the state permit with the Secretary. This bill lets geothermal power producers skip federal drilling permits and environmental reviews on non-federal land by holding a state permit, while requiring them to report that permit to the Secretary and accept onsite inspections.

Where it stands

The HEATS Act passed the House on April 23, 2026, and is pending in the Senate where it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on April 28, 2026. The Senate subcommittee held hearings on July 15, 2026, indicating active consideration, and no upcoming meetings are scheduled.

PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

Ted Cruz (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The proposal would reauthorize funding for pipeline safety programs and mandate new studies on pipeline materials and hazards. It would also provide grants for public gas distribution repairs and adjust federal regulatory definitions and reporting duties. This bill gives publicly owned natural gas distribution utilities federal grants to repair and replace pipelines while requiring all gas pipeline operators to assess and report on older pipe, meet new safety standards like fire shutoff valves, and face hydrogen blending rule updates.

Where it stands

The PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 passed the Senate with an amendment on April 29, 2026, and is currently pending in the House where it was held at the desk on May 4, 2026.

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Utilities & Power.

John Kennedy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would fund civil works, water resource projects, and energy programs for the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy. It would also provide appropriations for power marketing administrations and independent agencies while establishing rules for how these funds may be transferred or reprogrammed. This bill funds dam safety repairs for dams owned by public utilities, grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy work by electric power companies, commercial nuclear deployment awards, and federal interim storage for spent nuclear fuel.

Where it stands

S3293 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations on December 1, 2025, where it remains without scheduled hearings or markups.

Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to work with the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Inc. to study whether it is feasible to build a project expanding that water system's capacity and reach in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and to report to Congress on whether the project should be built, with a recommendation that the non-federal share of construction costs be no less than 25 percent. It authorizes $10,000,000 in federal appropriations for the study, caps the federal share of study costs at 50 percent, and ends the study authority 10 years after enactment. This bill funds a federal study, covering up to half the cost, of expanding the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, giving that water utility federal support while local ratepayers could owe at least 25 percent of construction costs if built.

Where it stands

HR7287 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 30, 2026, and the committee held a hearing on the bill on April 29, 2026. The record shows no markup noticed and no calendar placement for the bill.

Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study, in coordination with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, whether it is feasible to build a project piping Missouri River water to that system, with a public report recommending whether the project should be built and how much of the cost local sponsors would pay, at least 25 percent. It would authorize up to $10,000,000 in federal funding for the study, cap the federal share at 50 percent of study costs, and end the spending authority 10 years after enactment. This bill authorizes $10 million for a federal feasibility study, cost-shared up to 50 percent with the nonprofit Western Dakota Regional Water System, advancing a Missouri River water supply project that would serve water utilities in western South Dakota.

Where it stands

HR7288 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 30, 2026, and the committee took the bill up at a subcommittee hearing on April 16, 2026. A hearing does not commit the chair to anything, and the record shows no noticed markup for the bill.

A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and for other purposes.

Mike Lee (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior, working with the Secretary of Energy and Colorado River Storage Project power contractors, to complete a federally funded feasibility study within 18 months of enactment on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam designed to improve hydropower generation when releasing cold water while keeping invasive species out. If a studied alternative proves feasible under reclamation law, the Secretary could begin compliance and construction of it, but only with the power contractors' agreement, and any federal funds spent would be nonreimbursable, meaning participants would not pay them back. This bill directs a federally funded study of a water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam that would optimize hydropower generation, giving Colorado River Storage Project power contractors a required approval role over any resulting construction.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on March 17, 2026, ordered the bill reported at the June 10, 2026 markup, and reported it on September 17, 2026, placing it on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 653. No written report was filed, which is normal in the Senate and nothing is owed, and the adopted committee amendment text is not yet on file, so amended text is pending.

Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act

John Thune (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether it is feasible to expand the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, which supplies municipal, rural, and industrial water in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, and to report to Congress on whether the project should be built and how costs would be split, with the nonfederal sponsor covering at least 25 percent of construction costs. It authorizes $10,000,000 for the study, caps the federal share of study costs at 50 percent, requires a cost-sharing agreement with the nonfederal sponsor, and ends the authority 10 years after enactment. This bill directs the Interior Department to study expanding the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, covering up to half the study cost from $10 million in federal funds, benefiting that water utility and engineering firms hired for the work.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on March 17, 2026, ordered the bill reported at its July 16, 2026 markup, and reported it on September 17, 2026 without a written report, which is normal in the Senate. The bill now sits on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 649; because the adopted committee amendment text is not on file, the analysis reads the latest published print while the amended text is pending.

Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

John Thune (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to run a feasibility study, in coordination with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., on piping Missouri River water to that system, with a report to Congress recommending whether the project should be built and how much of the construction cost (at least 25 percent) local sponsors would pay. The federal share of the study could not exceed 50 percent, no more than $10,000,000 in federal funds could be spent on it, the Secretary would have to identify funding sources within 90 days of enactment, and the study authority would expire 5 years after enactment. This bill directs the Interior Secretary to conduct a federally funded feasibility study, covering up to half of up to $10 million in costs, for the Western Dakota Regional Water System's proposed project to bring Missouri River water to western South Dakota.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on March 17, 2026, voted at a June 10, 2026 markup to order the bill reported, and reported it on September 17, 2026 without a written report, which is normal in the Senate, placing it that day on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 648.

Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act

Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the authorization period for the competitive grant program for large-scale water recycling and reuse projects created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, doubling it from 5 years to 10 years. It makes no other changes to the program, its funding amounts, or its rules. This bill gives water and wastewater utilities a longer window, doubling the authorization of the federal competitive grant program for large-scale water recycling and reuse projects from 5 years to 10 years to seek federal cost share.

Where it stands

S3693, the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, was reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 647 on September 17, 2026, after the committee ordered it reported at its June 10, 2026 markup. No written report accompanied the reporting, which is normal in the Senate, and the adopted committee amendment text is not on file, so the amended text is pending and the analysis reads the latest published print.

Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act

Lauren Boebert (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would expand the types of Bureau of Reclamation facilities available for private hydropower development by removing restrictions that previously limited projects to small conduits and specific reservoirs. It would also extend the period during which non-Federal entities can hold operating authorizations by allowing them to remain active until they become inactive, rather than expiring on a fixed date. This bill lets private hydropower developers, including electric utilities, use any Bureau of Reclamation facility for power generation and keeps their federal authorizations active indefinitely instead of expiring on fixed dates.

Where it stands

HR7487 was reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on August 27, 2026, and placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 676. This placement establishes eligibility for floor consideration but does not guarantee a scheduled vote.

Affordable Power for Host Communities Act

James Gallagher (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a federal standard requiring electric utilities to charge customers located in counties that host qualifying power plants of at least 5 megawatts, including hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind facilities, 20 percent less than what similar customers outside host counties pay. State regulators and nonregulated utilities would have to begin considering that standard within one year and finish deciding within two years, though states that have already adopted or weighed a comparable discount would not have to redo the process. This bill requires electric utilities, both regulated and nonregulated, to charge customers in counties hosting power plants 20 percent less than other customers, while exempting utilities in states that already adopted a comparable discount.

Where it stands

HR10738, the Affordable Power for Host Communities Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 5, 2026 and has had no further dated action since. The bill now sits at the committee stage, where any hearing or markup would depend on the committee chair, though House leadership could also provide a path around committee.

Securing Our Critical Infrastructure Act

Josh Gottheimer (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would convert CISA's ransomware vulnerability warning pilot program into a broader security vulnerability warning program covering water and wastewater utilities serving up to 100,000 people as well as operators of public water systems and treatment works, running for five years, that automatically enrolls covered utilities in the agency's cyber hygiene services (with an opt-out) and directs the agency to conduct incident response on behalf of any utility it determines has been affected by a cyber incident. It would also exempt the information utilities share with the program from federal and state open-records and open-government disclosure laws, bar the agency from using or disclosing that information outside specified cybersecurity purposes, and require coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency. This bill directly benefits water and wastewater utilities serving up to 100,000 people by automatically enrolling them in CISA cyber hygiene services they may opt out of, providing government-led incident response after cyber incidents, and shielding shared information from open-records disclosure.

Where it stands

HR10671 was referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security on October 1, 2026. It is at the start of the committee stage, where the Homeland Security chair decides whether to notice a hearing or a markup, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

Utility Affordability and Transparency Act

Frank J. Mrvan (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would shift Federal Power Act emergency order authority from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the Secretary of Energy and add transparency steps, including a required explanation in each order, public reports on emergency causes and estimated customer costs within 30 days, written notices to affected utility customers within 60 days, and a study of cheaper alternatives before an order is renewed. It would also bar emergency orders that prevent or delay the retirement of a power plant or force a closed plant to generate again, unless an emergency cannot be met any other way and the applicable Transmission Organization asks the Secretary in writing to delay the closure. This bill requires electric utilities hit by federal emergency grid orders to tell their customers in writing what those orders cost within 60 days, while letting power plant owners retire their plants unless an emergency can be met no other way.

Where it stands

HR10687 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 1, 2026 and sits at the earliest stage of the committee process. Within committee, the chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a noticed markup, though committee action is not the only possible route.

Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026

Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would overhaul federal environmental review and permitting law to speed up approvals for energy, transmission, mining, and infrastructure projects, by imposing strict agency deadlines, expanding categorical exclusions, limiting the scope and timing of lawsuits, and restricting states and federal agencies from blocking or revoking permits. It would also provide new funding for permitting agencies and historic and coastal programs, open wholesale markets to storage aggregations, ease oil and gas and hardrock mining requirements, and require large computing loads to cover their own grid costs. This bill speeds environmental reviews and permits for electric, geothermal, hydro, offshore, and transmission projects, while imposing new duties on utilities for grid data, interconnection studies, tariffs, and fines up to $5,000,000 per imprudent transmission facility.

Where it stands

S5653 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 30, 2026, and no meetings are scheduled in our calendar data. The bill is now at the committee stage, the choke point where Senate bills most often stall.

Integrated Local, Regional, and Interregional Transmission Planning Act of 2026

Sean Casten (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require federal energy regulators to write a rule, within 18 months, that forces each transmission planning region to jointly plan with its neighbors for local, regional, and interregional transmission projects, submit those plans for federal approval on a set schedule, and allocate project costs only to customers who receive a benefit. It would also give projects selected through those joint plans an easier path to a federal construction permit and bar environmental review of the plan approvals themselves. This bill requires electric transmitting utilities and transmission owners to report expected in-kind replacements, imposes joint transmission planning duties and penalties on transmitting utilities, and lets utilities that build projects under approved joint plans file tariffs to recover costs from benefiting customers.

Where it stands

HR10539 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 24, 2026. It now sits at the earliest stage of the committee process, where committee consideration begins if and when the chair notices a hearing or a markup.

Newton County Water Infrastructure Improvement Act

Everton Blair Jr. (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to authorize $23,900,000 in federal assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure in Newton County, Georgia, including water supply and distribution systems. This authorization would make federal assistance available for those local water projects, subject to later appropriations. This bill authorizes $23,900,000 in federal funding for water and wastewater infrastructure in Newton County, Georgia, directly benefiting the county's water and wastewater utilities with federal support for supply and distribution upgrades.

Where it stands

HR10533 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 24, 2026 and sits at the earliest committee stage, with no hearing or markup scheduled in our calendar data. The committee chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed, while the committee route is not the only path since leadership action, suspension of the rules, a special rule, or a discharge petition can bypass the committee.

Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act

Joe Neguse (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Department of Energy to create a grant program, funded at $15 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2036, that pays electric utilities to harden power lines, underground lines, and take other steps to reduce wildfire risk and improve grid reliability. Utilities receiving grants would generally have to match the federal money dollar for dollar, though small utilities selling up to 4 million megawatt-hours a year would only have to match one third, and at least 40 percent of the funds would be reserved for wildfire-risk projects and at least 20 percent for small utilities. This bill gives electric utilities of all types, including small utilities selling up to 4 million megawatt-hours a year, federal grants to harden or underground power lines for wildfire risk and grid reliability, with matching funds of one third or more.

Where it stands

HR10584 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 24, 2026, which places it at the start of the ordinary committee stage. Its companion, S4193, has not been reported and was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 25, 2026.

Ottawa County Environmental Infrastructure Act

Hillary J. Scholten (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to authorize $15,000,000 in federal assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure in Ottawa County, Michigan, including stormwater management and surface water resource protection. It authorizes the funding but does not itself build anything or create a new program beyond adding this project to the existing assistance list. This bill authorizes $15 million in federal funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, in Ottawa County, Michigan, directly benefiting the water and sewer utilities there that build and operate those systems.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 24, 2026, so it sits at the committee stage, the first and most common choke point in the House. No hearing or markup has been noticed, and the committee chair alone decides whether either ever happens.

Muskegon County Environmental Infrastructure Act

Hillary J. Scholten (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend federal water law to authorize $15,000,000 in federal assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure in Muskegon County, Michigan, including stormwater management and surface water resource protection. Authorization makes the county's project eligible for federal funding but does not itself appropriate the money. This bill makes Muskegon County's water and wastewater utilities, along with stormwater systems, eligible to seek a newly authorized 15 million dollars in federal funding for infrastructure, stormwater management, and surface water protection.

Where it stands

HR10601, the Muskegon County Environmental Infrastructure Act, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 24, 2026. It is now at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed, though committee action is not an absolute prerequisite for the bill to move.

Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026

Dave Min (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to write rules creating a formal queue system for connecting large power customers, meaning facilities drawing more than 50 megawatts such as data centers, under which those customers pay 100 percent of interconnection study and grid upgrade costs, prove they can flex or cut their power demand, and arrange new generating resources to supply their own needs before connecting to the transmission grid. It would also let projects that add battery backup, pay prevailing wages with registered apprentices, or sign labor peace agreements skip ahead in the queue, guarantee colocated facilities non-firm transmission access and injection rights, bar existing generators from shifting capacity to large loads if that would leave other customers short, let the Energy Department require data center owners to report energy and water use data, and set up a data-center-scale artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory. This bill directs transmission providers to run a formal interconnection queue where large load customers pay full grid upgrade costs, requires them to bring new generation, and bars existing generators from shifting capacity away from other customers.

Where it stands

HR10579 was referred on September 24, 2026 to two committees, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, in each case for consideration of the provisions within that panel's jurisdiction, with the period for each to be determined by the Speaker. The bill is at the earliest committee stage: neither panel has noticed a hearing or a markup, and no meetings appear in the calendar data, with the usual quiet fate for a House bill being death in committee.

A bill to amend the Alaska Power Administration Asset Sale and Termination Act to modify and continue an exemption from application of the Federal Power Act for the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project, and for other purposes.

Lisa Murkowski (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Alaska Power Administration Asset Sale and Termination Act by striking the references to Snettisham and the Snettisham Purchaser from the section dealing with Federal Power Act coverage, which, as the title states, would modify and continue the exemption keeping the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project outside the Federal Power Act. In practice, the project and its purchaser would remain exempt from the federal licensing and regulatory requirements that otherwise apply to hydroelectric projects under that act. This bill keeps the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project exempt from Federal Power Act licensing while removing the exemption for its purchaser, so the project operator avoids federal licensing costs while the purchasing electric utility gains those federal obligations.

Where it stands

S5501 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 24, 2026, so it now sits in committee at the first procedural stage after introduction. Committee action is the ordinary route in the Senate but not an absolute prerequisite, since unanimous consent, discharge, or use as an amendment could bypass the committee.

Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act

Martin Heinrich (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new federal income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the investment in qualifying large electric power transmission lines, covering equipment such as conductors, towers, transformers, and substation property for lines of at least 500 megawatts, high-voltage lines using advanced conductors, and generator or energy storage tie lines, with lines generally required to be placed in service after December 31, 2026 or be modified to increase transmission capacity, and construction required to begin by the end of 2036. It would let taxpayers take the credit as a direct payment or sell it to another party, while barring any line project from claiming both this credit and the separate clean electricity credits under existing law. This bill gives electric utilities, transmission developers, and power or storage companies a 30 percent tax credit, payable directly or transferable, for building large high-voltage transmission lines and generator tie lines placed in service after 2026.

Where it stands

S5453, the Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance on September 22, 2026. It now sits at the committee stage, which is the first and most common choke point for Senate bills.

Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act

Diana Harshbarger (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Secretary of Energy, within 90 days of enactment and in consultation with federal regulators, to assess whether artificial intelligence and high-performance computing tools could expand capacity, reliability, and efficiency on the bulk-power system, including by speeding up generator and load interconnection studies. Within a year, the agency would report its findings and recommendations for overcoming adoption barriers to the relevant House and Senate committees. This bill orders a federal study of whether AI and high-performance computing could improve capacity, reliability, and efficiency on the bulk-power system, whose operators and generators stand to gain from faster interconnection studies if adopted.

Where it stands

The House passed H.R. 9339 by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 15, 2026, and the Senate received it and referred it to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 16, 2026. The bill is now pending in the Senate, where identical text must pass before anything can go to the President.

Water Project Navigators Act

Brittany Pettersen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to create a Water Project Navigators Program within 180 days of enactment, awarding grants and cooperative agreements to states, tribes, water districts, and nonprofits to fund navigator staff who help plan and carry out water projects, with federal funding capped at 75 percent of costs and money not allowed for existing environmental compliance duties. It would authorize $15 million per year for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and require a report to Congress after 5 years on how the program helps Tribes, disadvantaged communities, and rural communities reduce water supply imbalances and improve drought resilience. This bill gives water utilities and municipal water districts federally funded grants to hire water project navigators who help plan projects and win more funding, in exchange for a 25 percent local cost share.

Where it stands

HR7408 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on February 5, 2026, and the record shows no hearing, no markup, no report, and no calendar placement for the bill. In the House, a referred bill with no noticed markup can lapse quietly when the Congress ends.

Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act

Susie Lee (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the authorization for the large-scale water recycling and reuse grant program created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act from 5 years to 10 years, keeping federal grant money available for those projects for a longer period. This bill extends the federal large-scale water recycling grant program from five years to ten years, giving water and wastewater utilities, municipal providers, and companies building reuse systems a longer window to seek funding for projects.

Where it stands

HR6204 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on November 20, 2025 and sits at the start of the committee stage, with no hearing, markup, or floor calendar placement for the bill in the record. Under House practice the committee chair decides whether a hearing or markup is ever noticed, and referred bills that go no further typically lapse when the Congress ends.

Southern Nevada Wastewater Infrastructure Lands Act

Dina Titus (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to transfer, free of charge, about 257 acres of federal Bureau of Land Management land in Clark County, Nevada, to the Clark County Water Reclamation District, within 180 days of the District's request, for public purposes including wastewater infrastructure. The District would have to pay the administrative costs of the transfer, including land surveys, and any parcel that stops being used for public purposes would revert to the United States. This bill gives the Clark County Water Reclamation District, a wastewater utility, about 257 acres of federal land in Clark County at no cost for wastewater infrastructure, with the District paying only survey and administrative costs.

Where it stands

HR10292 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on September 3, 2026 and sits at the earliest committee stage, with no hearing or markup on the committee's calendar in our data. At this point the bill is eligible for committee consideration but nothing further is scheduled.

WISE Act

Nikema Williams (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require states to allocate at least 20 percent of their federal water infrastructure capitalization grants to green infrastructure and efficiency projects. This mandate applies only when there are sufficient eligible applications for such projects. This bill requires states to spend at least 20 percent of federal water infrastructure grants on green infrastructure and water or energy efficiency projects, shifting funding away from traditional water and wastewater utilities toward such projects.

Where it stands

The WISE Act is currently in the committee stage, having been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 22, 2026. This referral places the bill under the jurisdiction of that committee's chair, who controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled.

Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act

Cliff Bentz (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to set the pay for the Bonneville Power Administration's administrator and staff to match compensation levels at consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection. This adjustment begins six months after the act is signed into law. This bill raises pay for Bonneville Power Administration executives and staff to match levels at consumer-owned electric utilities in the Western Interconnection, potentially passing higher administrative salary costs to the utilities' electricity ratepayers.

Where it stands

HR 8132 is in the committee stage following its referral to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 27, 2026. The committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled, and the bill faces the risk of quiet expiration if no action occurs before the Congress ends.

Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act

Kevin Mullin (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a three-year study on the feasibility and benefits of building high-voltage transmission lines within existing highway and railroad rights-of-way. The study must identify suitable locations, evaluate safety and engineering challenges, and develop an interagency action plan to help utilities and government agencies coordinate future construction projects. This bill directs a three-year Energy Department study of running high-voltage transmission lines along highways and railroads, giving electric transmission utilities a roadmap for cheaper, faster permitting and better grid reliability.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 5, 2026, and is currently pending before that committee. Procedurally, this places the measure in the committee stage where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled.

Clean Water Affordability Act

Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill allows states to use up to 50 percent of their water pollution control capitalization grants for subsidies to help ratepayers maintain access to wastewater treatment services. It also requires states to spend at least 20 percent of these grants on such subsidies if there are sufficient qualifying applications. This bill lets states divert up to half of their water pollution control grants to subsidize wastewater bills, helping utilities keep more customers paid and served while shrinking loan funds for infrastructure projects.

Where it stands

HR 5833 is referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment following its referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on October 24, 2025. No committee action has occurred, but this status does not preclude leadership from advancing the measure through alternative procedural paths.

Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act of 2025

Troy Balderson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require federal agencies to adopt specific definitions for affordable, reliable, and clean energy that include natural gas and nuclear power while excluding intermittent sources like wind and solar. It would mandate that these new definitions be incorporated into existing regulations, grants, and policies within 90 days of an initial identification report. This bill rewrites federal grant and policy definitions of clean and reliable energy to include natural gas and nuclear and exclude wind and solar, changing which electric utilities and power providers qualify for federal support.

Where it stands

The bill is referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled. This stage is a primary choke point, as most measures lapse here without committee action.

Stop the Trump Electricity Price Hikes Act

Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act would reinstate all financial assistance awards previously terminated by the Department of Energy under a specific 2025 memorandum. It mandates that these grants continue in effect as if the terminations had never occurred. This bill restores Department of Energy grants previously canceled in 2025, giving electric power generation, transmission, and distribution companies renewed access to that funding for their energy projects without reapplying.

Where it stands

The measure is currently referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a referral recorded on October 3, 2025. No committee meetings or floor actions are scheduled for this bill in the available data.

Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities Act

Zachary Nunn (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require federal infrastructure funds designated for lead service line replacements to be disbursed exclusively to disadvantaged communities as forgivable loans or grants. By changing the distribution method for existing Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants, the bill ensures these specific communities receive direct financial assistance for water safety projects. This bill directs federal lead service line replacement funds only to disadvantaged communities as grants or forgivable loans, benefiting water utilities there with paid-for upgrades while leaving other water utilities to fund replacements themselves.

Where it stands

HR4816 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 29, 2025, and has no scheduled hearings or markups. The committee chair controls whether to notice these procedural steps, leaving the bill in a stalled posture absent further action.

A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to modify eligibility for the State response to contaminants program, and for other purposes.

Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to expand eligibility for State response to contaminants program grants to include private well owners and small communities that lack the financial capacity to pay for cleanup. It allows states to request funds on behalf of disadvantaged communities or those with fewer than 10,000 residents who cannot incur debt for necessary activities. This bill expands federal Safe Drinking Water Act grants so states can fund contaminant cleanup for small communities under 10,000 residents and private well owners, giving water providers new funding relief while large systems face more competition for the same grant money.

Where it stands

S1324 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 8, 2025. This status places the bill in the committee stage, where the chair controls whether to schedule a hearing or a markup.