Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act.

Sec. 2. Rural water and wastewater cybersecurity circuit rider program

Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (22) the following:

(23) Rural water and wastewater cybersecurity circuit rider program

(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish a cybersecurity circuit rider program, which shall be structured similarly to the circuit rider program under paragraph (22), to provide technical assistance to associations described in paragraph (1) that operate rural water or wastewater systems—

(i)

to provide rapid assessments of the current ability or inability of those associations—

(I)

to respond to cybersecurity threats; and

(II)

to protect the cyberinfrastructure of those associations and public health;

(ii)

to develop reasonable protocols to enhance cybersecurity protection;

(iii)

to provide assistance to address inadequate cyber protection plans; and

(iv)

to document the state of cyber protection with respect to the water supplies of those associations.

(B) Report requirement

A circuit rider that receives funding under this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary a report documenting—

(i)

the associations served by the circuit rider under this paragraph; and

(ii)

the activities performed by the circuit rider under this paragraph.

(C) Requirements for circuit riders

To provide technical assistance under subparagraph (A), a circuit rider shall possess the necessary experience and certification to effectively carry out the activities described in that subparagraph, as determined by the Secretary.

(D) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.