WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 5360

A bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Catherine Cortez Masto and 4 co-sponsors

Reauthorizes the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program to provide grants and technical help to rural/municipal utilities for cyb

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5360

Overview

S. 5360 seeks to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program (the R-MUAC program) and to make other related changes. The bill is introduced in the Senate (Session 119) and has several bipartisan co-sponsors. As introduced, it proceeds through the standard legislative process: read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Purpose and intent

  • Reauthorize and potentially expand the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program established under the IIJA.
  • Provide targeted funding, grants, and technical assistance to rural and municipal electric utilities to improve cybersecurity resilience against cyber threats.
  • Align program activities with ongoing federal efforts to safeguard critical energy infrastructure and support smaller utilities that may have limited cybersecurity resources.

Key provisions and changes (as described by the bill title and summary)

  • Reauthorization of the R-MUAC program:
    • Extend the program authority beyond its prior authorization period to ensure continued funding and activities.
    • Maintain or adjust program scope to continue supporting cybersecurity projects for rural and municipal utilities.
  • Grant and technical assistance components:
    • Continue providing grants to eligible utilities for cybersecurity improvements (e.g., assessment, planning, implementation of security controls, and resilience measures).
    • Maintain or expand the availability of technical assistance to help utilities identify risks, develop cybersecurity plans, and implement best practices.
  • Administration and oversight:
    • Likely specify roles for federal agencies (notably the Department of Energy and its Energy Sector cybersecurity programs) in administering and monitoring funds.
    • Include reporting or oversight requirements to ensure fund effectiveness and prudent use of resources.
  • Potential emphasis areas:
    • Protection of critical electric infrastructure in rural and smaller municipal systems.
    • Prioritization criteria for funding (e.g., risk, vulnerability, potential impact, and readiness).

Who would be affected

  • Rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and other small and rural electric service providers that participate in or qualify for the R-MUAC program.
  • State energy offices or regional bodies involved in coordinating cybersecurity assistance for utilities.
  • End users served by rural/municipal utilities, indirectly benefiting from improved cybersecurity posture and reduced risk of service disruption.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduction and referral:
    • Introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
    • Initial action dated August 7, 2026 (read twice and referred to committee).
  • Next steps in the legislative process:
    • Committee consideration, potential markup, and consideration on the Senate floor.
    • If passed by one chamber, would need to be reconciled with any House-passed version (if applicable) and signed into law.
  • Funding cycle considerations:
    • Reauthorization implies continuation of annual or multi-year funding cycles for grants and technical assistance, consistent with the authorizing language of the IIJA and any subsequent appropriations.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Cybersecurity uplift for small and rural utilities, reducing vulnerability to cyber threats and improving incident response capabilities.
  • Encouragement for strategic investments in security controls, monitoring, governance, and resilience planning.
  • Administrative clarity for applicants and recipients, with defined eligiblity, reporting, and compliance expectations.
  • Economic and reliability benefits for communities dependent on rural and municipal electric systems.

Notes

  • The bill’s text would provide exact funding levels, eligibility criteria, match requirements (if any), performance metrics, and reporting obligations. The summary above reflects the bill’s stated purpose and typical features of reauthorization bills targeting security grants for critical infrastructure.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.