House Bill Would Raise "Rural" Population Limit to 25,000, Expanding Access to Federal Grants
This bill is currently sitting in several House committees for review. Nothing has happened with the bill since February 2026, which means it has been stalled for about four months. The committees must take action before the bill can move forward.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 5359 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 5359 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Veterans living in communities near military bases would benefit indirectly because those towns would no longer lose rural program eligibility due to base populations. This preserves access to USDA housing, broadband, and water programs in communities where many veterans settle after service.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Jim Costa introduced H.R. 7609 to harmonize population thresholds for USDA rural programs. The bill raises the limit to 25,000 for broadband, water, and housing aid, while excluding incarcerated and military base populations from counts to ensure growing towns retain eligibility.
Congressional leaders acknowledge the farm bill stalemate will push negotiations into 2026. A key focus is the Rural Development title, where advocates seek updated definitions to help small communities access critical funding for water, wastewater, and emergency services infrastructure.
The Department of Agriculture is signaling it may not commit to spending newly appropriated funds for rural development grants, setting up a potential clash with Congress over program eligibility and funding priorities for small communities and minority producers.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Rural Development Modernization Act
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