Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9144
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T17:31:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
## Purpose The legislation amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to include reasonable costs for high-speed internet service in utility allowances for certain public housing families. Its goal is to reduce barriers to internet access for households with school-aged children, supporting education by addressing the digital divide.
## Key Provisions
- Adds a new paragraph to section 3(b) of the 1937 Act defining utility allowances to cover monthly high-speed internet service, equipment rental or purchase, and a one-time installation fee.
- Limits the included cost to the lowest available rate in the local area for internet service only; excludes cable, satellite television, or telephone services.
- Allows households to select higher-cost plans or bundled packages at their own expense.
- Restricts eligibility to households that pay for the service and include children qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
- Requires internet providers to supply, upon initial service, a technology that blocks or filters visual depictions harmful to minors, meeting standards at least as protective as those in the Communications Act of 1934.
## Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces internet service as a covered utility in public housing allowances for the first time, expanding the definition of allowable costs under the 1937 Act. Prior law focused on traditional utilities such as electricity, gas, and water without addressing broadband.
## Potential Impacts
- Increases costs for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local public housing agencies through higher utility allowance payments.
- Reduces out-of-pocket expenses for eligible low-income families, potentially improving internet access for student learning.
- May affect internet providers by requiring child-protection features on new accounts.
- No direct effects on international relations are evident.
## Main Stakeholders
- Families living in public housing with children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
- HUD and public housing authorities responsible for setting and administering allowances.
- Internet service providers required to offer compliant service and filtering technology.
- School districts and students indirectly affected through improved home internet access.
## Notable Implications The measure ties internet support to school lunch eligibility, linking housing policy with education programs. It incorporates child online protection requirements drawn from existing communications law. No major constitutional or legal conflicts are apparent in the text, though implementation would depend on regulatory guidance from HUD.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-04 — PDF (4 pages)