Rural Development Modernization Act
The Rural Development Modernization Act (HR 7609) increases the population threshold for determining "rural" status in Department of Agriculture programs from 20,000 or lower to 25,000 inhabitants. This change affects eligibility for broadband, telemedicine, housing, water, and sanitation programs serving rural communities across the country. The bill also removes military base population exclusions, clarifies definitions for U.S. territories and freely associated states, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to annually reassess the population threshold based on census data and regional trends. These provisions aim to modernize how rural areas are defined for federal program eligibility.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Feb 20, 2026
Last action Feb 20, 2026
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Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
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.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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