Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3861
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-26T04:08:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S. 3861)
Purpose
This legislation aims to reauthorize and expand the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. The program supports economic development in rural areas by funding partnerships that build networks and opportunities to strengthen local economies, with a focus on communities facing economic challenges.
Key Provisions
- Program Structure and Eligibility: Establishes grants for regional partnerships in rural areas (populations under 50,000) to develop economic strategies. Partnerships must include local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and educational institutions.
- Targeted Funding: Requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary to prioritize a wide range of rural community types, emphasizing those with fewer than 20,000 residents. At least 10% of annual grants must support communities with fewer than 10,000 residents.
- Grant Selection Criteria: The Secretary must ensure diverse industries are represented, obtain approval from the state's rural development office for selections, and consider factors like population size, economic need, and partnership strength.
- Eligible Activities: Funds can support workforce training, business development, infrastructure improvements, and community planning to create jobs and attract investment. Activities must align with regional economic goals.
- Reporting and Oversight: Grantees must report on outcomes, such as jobs created and investments leveraged, with a focus on grant-funded activities rather than specific sectors.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates $50 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to implement the program.
- Conforming Amendment: Updates a reference in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to align with the revised RISE program structure.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadened Focus: Removes emphasis on "industry clusters" (specific groups of related businesses) and shifts to supporting industries in declining rural areas, allowing more flexibility in addressing general economic needs.
- Simplified Structure: Eliminates certain eligibility paragraphs and redesignates others for clarity; adjusts grant criteria to prioritize small communities and state involvement.
- Enhanced Targeting: Introduces requirements for minimum funding to very small rural areas (under 10,000 residents) and mandates diverse industry representation.
- Reporting Adjustments: Updates performance metrics to emphasize grant activities and regional participation, removing sector-specific language.
- Funding Extension: Reauthorizes the program with a new, fixed annual appropriation through 2031, replacing prior authorizations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the USDA's rural development offices in administering grants, selecting recipients, and ensuring state concurrence, potentially requiring additional staff or resources.
- Citizens and Communities: Benefits rural residents, especially in small towns, by funding job creation, training, and infrastructure, which could reduce economic decline and improve quality of life in underserved areas.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the program is domestic-focused on U.S. rural economies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural Communities and Residents: Particularly those in small populations (under 20,000), who gain access to economic development resources.
- Local Partnerships: Including governments, nonprofits, businesses, and educational entities that form collaborations to apply for and manage grants.
- State Rural Development Offices: Involved in approving grant recipients, influencing program distribution.
- USDA and Federal Government: Responsible for program oversight, funding disbursement, and performance evaluation.
- Rural Businesses and Workers: Benefit from training, networking, and investment opportunities to foster growth and employment.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens administrative requirements (e.g., state concurrence) to ensure accountability without altering core federal grant authorities; no challenges to existing statutes beyond targeted amendments.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote general welfare through rural economic support; no apparent issues with federalism, as it involves state consultation.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan rural advocacy by expanding aid to economically vulnerable areas, potentially influencing elections in agricultural states; emphasizes equity for smaller communities, addressing urban-rural divides without controversial mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-02-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (7 pages)