H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, passed the House on June 29, 2026.
H.R. 7266 — Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
What it does
This bill creates a $250 million federal grant program (2026–2030) to help rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and smaller investor-owned utilities upgrade their cybersecurity defenses. The Department of Energy will award grants, provide technical assistance, and offer prizes to eligible utilities to deploy advanced cybersecurity technology and participate in threat-sharing networks. Information shared under the program is exempt from public disclosure under FOIA.
Quorum's transparency scan gave Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act a moderate transparency flag.
What happens next
H.R. 7266 passed the House. It now moves to the other chamber.
Who is behind it
Filed by Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Cosponsored by Diana Harshbarger and Jennifer McClellan.