Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (30 Sep 2026): Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
What this bill does
S. 5360 would reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program by amending the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the law that originally established the program. The bill's full text has not yet been published, so the specific changes it would make — such as funding levels, program duration, or eligibility rules — are not yet known.
The program provides cybersecurity grants and technical assistance to rural and municipal electric utilities, so this bill would primarily affect those utilities and the federal agencies that administer the program. Because the text isn't available, it isn't yet possible to say how existing program terms would change or which utilities would be newly affected.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 7, 2026, by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). It is currently at the earliest stage of the legislative process, having just been introduced, with no further action recorded yet. Typically, a bill at this stage would next be referred to a Senate committee for review before any vote could occur; whether or when that will happen for this bill is not yet known.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 a program that provides cybersecurity-related assistance and funding to rural electric cooperatives and municipal or small, investor-owned electric utilities. The bill also revises methods of awarding support and expands protections for information shared under the program.
This program, known as the Rural and Municipal Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, is administered by the Department of Energy (DOE). Current law requires DOE to provide technical assistance and funding under the program on a competitive basis; under the bill, assistance and funding may be provided on a competitive or noncompetitive basis.
Current law also requires DOE to prioritize providing technical assistance and funding to certain entities, including entities that own defense critical electric infrastructure. The bill specifies that DOE must also prioritize entities that operate such infrastructure. (Defense critical electric infrastructure is electric infrastructure that (1) is located in the contiguous United States, and (2) serves a designated critical defense facility but is not owned or operated by the owner or operator of the critical facility.)
Finally, the bill expands an existing protection against disclosure to cover all information shared under the program by or with the federal government or a state, tribal, or local government. This provision protects against disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act and other state, tribal, or local disclosure laws.
Timeline
30 Sep 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 5360 do?
- S. 5360 would reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program by amending the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the law that originally established the program. The bill's full text has not yet been published, so the specific changes it would make — such as funding levels, program duration, or eligibility rules — are not yet known. The program provides cybersecurity grants and technical assistance to rural and municipal electric utilities, so this bill would primarily affect those utilities and the federal agencies that administer the program. Because the text isn't available, it isn't yet possible to say how existing program terms would change or which utilities would be newly affected. The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 7, 2026, by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). It is currently at the earliest stage of the legislative process, having just been introduced, with no further action recorded yet. Typically, a bill at this stage would next be referred to a Senate committee for review before any vote could occur; whether or when that will happen for this bill is not yet known.
- Has S. 5360 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5360. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5360?
- S. 5360 was sponsored by Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA), with 5 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5360?
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. (30 Sep 2026).
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