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Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

Congress Proposes $250 Million to Protect Rural and Local Power Grids from Cyberattacks

Also known as: Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Representative Miller-Meeks, would provide $250 million over five years to help small and rural power companies defend against hackers. The money would be used to buy new security technology and hire experts to monitor for digital threats.
  • The program focuses on helping local utility companies that often have smaller budgets than big city power plants. This includes rural electric cooperatives, city-owned utilities, and small private companies that serve fewer customers.
  • The goal is to prevent cyberattacks that could cause power outages or damage the electrical grid. By giving these smaller companies better tools to detect and respond to threats, the government hopes to make the entire country's energy system more reliable.
  • Priority for the funding will go to utilities that have the fewest resources or those that provide power to critical military bases and other essential national security sites.
  • To encourage companies to participate, any information they share with the government about their security weaknesses or cyber threats will be kept private. It cannot be released through public records requests like the Freedom of Information Act.
Energy EnvironmentTechnology DigitalNational Security Foreign Policy

Milestones

3 milestones5 actions
Feb 4, 2026House

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Feb 4, 2026House

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Jan 27, 2026House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.

Jan 27, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

2030-09-30

Five-year funding authorization expires at end of fiscal year 2030

The $250 million authorization window would close, and Congress would need to pass new legislation to continue the program beyond that point.

Related News

4 articles
SC Media·20 days ago

House panel OKs multiple energy cyber, physical defense bolstering bills

The House Subcommittee on Energy approved the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, which would ensure cybersecurity tooling for electric cooperatives and public power agencies until 2030. The measure was part of a package of five bills aimed at bolstering community-level resilience.

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SecurityWeek·24 days ago

5 Bills to Boost Energy Sector Cyber Defenses Clear House Panel

The House Subcommittee on Energy advanced H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act. The bill reauthorizes a cybersecurity program through 2030, providing rural electric cooperatives and small utilities with advanced tools, technical assistance, and grant funding.

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Nextgov/FCW·about 1 month ago

Tech Bills of the Week: Measures seek to boost cyber posture of utilities

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks rolled out legislation to expand a program under the 2021 infrastructure law. The bill would authorize $250 million to help smaller electric utilities prevent, detect, and recover from cyber threats through grants and technical assistance.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

Bill NumberHR 7266
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionForwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 1R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.