Bill · H.R. 7266· House(119-HR-7266)
Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
- Introduced
- 1/27/2026
- Last activity
- 7/13/2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 1
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act seeks to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It aims to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program. This program provides funding through grants, cooperative agreements, and prizes to help electric utilities protect against cybersecurity threats. The Secretary of Energy is tasked with providing technical assistance and deploying advanced cybersecurity technologies. Additionally, the bill seeks to increase participation in cybersecurity threat information sharing. The act authorizes $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+8
The bill funds the deployment of advanced cybersecurity technologies to protect electric utilities and defense critical infrastructure.
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The bill provides financial and technical assistance to owners of small-scale electric utilities.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+5
The bill provides grants and technical assistance to small-scale electric utilities like rural cooperatives and municipally owned utilities.
The opposite
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-4
The bill exempts information shared under the program from public disclosure laws, including FOIA and state open records laws.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased protection for electric utilities: The program helps eligible entities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats (Section 2, subsection b).
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Support for smaller or resource-limited utilities: The Secretary is directed to give priority to eligible entities that have limited cybersecurity resources or own assets critical to the reliability of the bulk-s-power system or defense critical electric infrastructure (Section 2, subsection d, 2).
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Deployment of modern security technology: The program's objectives include the deployment of advanced cybersecurity technologies for electric utility systems (Section 2, subsection c, 1).
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Improved information sharing: The program aims to increase the participation of eligible entities in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs (Section 2, subsection c, 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limits on government transparency: Information shared by or with the Federal Government or a State, Tribal, or local government under this program is deemed voluntarily shared and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or any similar State, Tribal, or local open government or public records laws (Section 2, subsection e).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5Good For Rural Residents+4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+8
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+3Improves Government Transparency-4
- 7/13/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 6/29/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4299)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4299)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7266.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4299-4300)
- Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 4/30/2026
- Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-629.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 545.
- 2/4/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 1/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia