Bills · S 4096
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 4096Water Resources Development
A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.
INTRO MAR 12· LAST ACTION MAR 12
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because reliable access to clean water and proper wastewater disposal is fundamental for health and quality of life, especially in rural areas where municipal services are often unavailable. Many rural households rely on private wells and septic systems, which can be expensive to install, repair, or upgrade. Without assistance, these costs can be a significant burden, leading to unsafe drinking water, environmental contamination, or costly emergencies.
If this bill becomes law, more rural families, particularly those with lower incomes, will have financial assistance to ensure their homes have safe and functional water and waste systems. This could prevent health issues, protect local environments, and reduce financial stress for homeowners. If it doesn't become law, the program might have expired or continued with less clear guidelines, lower funding limits, and less flexibility, leaving many rural residents without adequate support for these critical home infrastructure needs.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Clarifies that grants are specifically for individual household water well systems and decentralized wastewater (septic) systems owned by individuals in rural areas.
This focuses the program directly on helping individual homeowners with their private water and septic infrastructure, making its purpose more explicit.
PROVISION 02
Establishes an income-based tiered system for financial assistance: subgrants (money not repaid) for households earning less than 60% of the area's median income, and loans for households earning 60-100% of the median income.
This ensures that the most vulnerable low-income households can receive aid without the burden of repayment, while still supporting moderate-income families.
PROVISION 03
Increases the maximum individual assistance amount from $15,000 to $20,000.
This provides more substantial financial help, reflecting potentially rising costs of construction, refurbishing, and servicing these systems.
PROVISION 04
Allows subgrants for decentralized wastewater systems to include funding for a performance warranty of at least 5 years.
This provides homeowners with additional financial protection and assurance for the long-term functionality of their new or repaired septic systems.
PROVISION 05
Extends the program's funding authorization period from 2023 to 2031.
This ensures the program can continue to operate and provide essential financial assistance to rural residents for nearly another decade.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· New Jersey
YRS IN OFFICE
12
BILLS LED
125
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 12
Introduced in Senate
MAR 12
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 4096
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 12, 2026
Last actionMar 12, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 12, 2026
Senate BillS 4096Water Resources Development
A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.
INTRODUCED MAR 12, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 12, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
