Rural Development Modernization Act

H.R. 7609 would modernize how the Department of Agriculture defines and serves rural communities by updating population thresholds for various federal programs. Currently, different USDA programs use different population limits to determine which areas qualify as rural. This bill would standardize many of these thresholds to 25,000 inhabitants, raising the limits for broadband and telemedicine programs from 20,000, telephone service loans from 5,000, and water and wastewater assistance from 10,000 and 20,000 respectively. The bill would also clarify that these programs apply to U.S. territories.

Additionally, the bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct annual reassessments of what constitutes a rural area, taking into account census data and population trends. This would ensure that the definitions stay current as communities grow or change. The bill includes technical corrections to ensure consistency across related laws. If enacted, these changes could expand federal funding eligibility for broadband, water systems, and other rural infrastructure in communities that currently fall just above existing population thresholds. The bill is currently under committee consideration and has not yet been voted on by the full House.