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HR 9776

FLOWS Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Rick Crawford and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a federal grant program to fund digitally enabled improvements in rural water systems, including cyber resilience, workforce training, and software adoption.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9776

Overview

  • Bill: HR 9776
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Title: FLOWS Act of 2026 (Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026)
  • Purpose: Establish a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program to support water systems and related infrastructure through digital innovations, workforce training, and cyber resiliency measures.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Create a federal grant program to fund digitally-enabled improvements in rural water systems and related water resources infrastructure.
  • Promote modernization of water treatment, distribution, wastewater, stormwater management, and source protection using digital infrastructure technologies.
  • Improve monitoring, efficiency, resilience, and cybersecurity of rural water utilities.
  • Assess and report on the outcomes and efficiency benefits of adopting digital infrastructure in rural water projects.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Definitions (Section 2(a)):
    • Administrator: EPA Administrator.
    • Digital infrastructure technology: Includes remote sensing, flow/pressure and real-time pollutant monitoring, analytics, data collection, industrial control systems (including SCADA), artificial/intelligent tools, hydraulic analysis, digital design software, and construction management tools to aid water projects.
    • Eligible entity: Owners/operators of publicly owned rural water systems, rural areas themselves, or States/Tribes acting on behalf of eligible entities.
    • Program: The grant program established in subsection (b).
    • Public water system, Rural Area, Treatment Works: As defined by existing federal statutes referenced in the bill.
  • Grant Program Establishment (Section 2(b)):
    • The Administrator must establish a grant program to assist eligible entities with digital infrastructure for water projects in rural areas.
  • Form of Grants (Section 2(b)(2)):
    • Eligible uses of grants:
    • Design, construction, operation, and maintenance of digital infrastructure for water infrastructure, source water protection, and water development (including drinking water, wastewater, stormwater; desalination; water reuse; distribution and conveyance systems; protection/development of surface water or groundwater resources, including aquifer banking/recharge).
    • Training and workforce development for project/construction managers and operators to manage water projects using digital infrastructure technology.
    • Cybersecurity: measures to mitigate cyber risks to digital infrastructure, including on-site cybersecurity training and technical assistance.
    • Acquisition of Software: Grants may be used for the initial acquisition of software for digital infrastructure technology, notwithstanding other laws.
  • Prioritization (Section 2(b)(3)):
    • Favor entities that:
    • Own/operate public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 people.
    • Serve or include populations most in need, including pre-fabricated home community organizations controlled by local public bodies, and entities owned/controlled by members of the community served (as opposed to investor-owned).
  • Appropriations (Section 2(b)(4)):
    • Authorization of $50,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027–2031, available until expended.
  • Compliance with Other Laws (Section 2(c)):
    • The act does not waive or alter federal or state law applicable to projects funded under the program.
  • Digital Transformation Study (Section 2(d)):
    • Comptroller General must conduct a study within 5 years to assess the impact of digital infrastructure in rural water projects.
    • Study elements include identifying water loss, fire-flow capacity gaps, sewer system bottlenecks, and effective models for rural water resource management.
    • Recommendations on: watershed/community water plans, prioritization of rural infrastructure improvements, interoperability, project timelines/costs, overall affordability, sustainability, and resilience.
  • Reporting (Section 2(e)):
    • By December 31, 2030, the Comptroller General must submit a report detailing the study results and program results to relevant Senate and House committees (Environment and Public Works; Transportation and Infrastructure).

Who Would Be Affected

  • Eligible entities:
    • Small/rural public water systems and their owners/operators.
    • Rural areas seeking to improve water infrastructure.
    • State or Tribal governments acting on behalf of eligible water entities.
  • Contractors and vendors:
    • Entities supplying digital infrastructure technology, software, and cybersecurity services for water systems.
  • Workforce:
    • Water system operators, project managers, and workforce development/training providers.
  • Consumers:
    • Rural residents served by the funded water systems, who could benefit from improved reliability, efficiency, and affordability of water services.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction Date: July 20, 2026.
  • Committee Referral: Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce.
  • Appropriations: Authorized at $50 million per year from FY2027 through FY2031 (spending to remain available until expended).
  • Digital Transformation Study: CG must complete within 5 years of enactment; reporting due by 2030 for study and program results.
  • Final reporting: Comptroller General report due by December 31, 2030.
  • No preemption: The bill preserves existing federal and state laws applicable to funded projects.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Enhanced rural water system resilience through digital monitoring, analytics, and cyber defense.
  • Encourages modernization via software acquisitions and digital design/tools.
  • Targeted support for the smallest water systems and underserved rural communities.
  • Emphasis on training to build local capacity and governance for digital water operations.
  • Long-term evaluation framework to measure cost savings, reliability, and sustainability of digital approaches in rural contexts.
  • Budgetary impact limited to the authorized $50 million annually over five years, with funds administered by EPA.

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

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