Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

Hozzl · 2025-03-28T04:23:19Z

Explore the details of Senate Bill 1018 Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on undefined. Stay informed on legislative developments.

3/28/2025, 4:23 AM

Summary of Bill S 1018

Bill 119 s 1018, also known as the "Cybersecurity Circuit Rider Program Act," aims to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to create a cybersecurity circuit rider program. This program would offer cybersecurity-related technical support to specific entities that manage rural water or wastewater systems.

The bill recognizes the increasing importance of cybersecurity in protecting critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater systems, from cyber threats. By establishing a cybersecurity circuit rider program, the legislation seeks to ensure that rural communities have access to the necessary resources and expertise to safeguard their systems against potential cyber attacks.

Under this program, cybersecurity experts, known as circuit riders, would be deployed to provide technical assistance and guidance to eligible entities operating rural water or wastewater systems. These experts would offer support in implementing cybersecurity best practices, conducting risk assessments, and developing incident response plans to enhance the overall cybersecurity posture of these systems. Overall, Bill 119 s 1018 aims to address the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by rural water and wastewater systems by establishing a dedicated program to provide much-needed technical assistance and support in enhancing their cybersecurity defenses.

Congressional Summary of S 1018

Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a cybersecurity circuit rider program to provide cybersecurity technical assistance for rural water and wastewater systems.

The program must be structured similarly to the USDA Circuit Rider Program. Under this program, USDA provides technical assistance to rural water systems that serve areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer people and are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial, or managerial issues.

Specifically, the cybersecurity circuit rider program must provide technical assistance to rural water or wastewater systems to

provide rapid assessments of the system's current ability or inability to respond to cybersecurity threats and protect cyber infrastructure,
develop reasonable protocols to enhance cybersecurity protection,
provide assistance to address inadequate cyber protection plans, and
document a system's current state of water supply cyber protection.

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Current Status of Bill S 1018

Bill S 1018 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 13, 2025. Bill S 1018 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on March 13, 2025. Bill S 1018's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. as of March 13, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1018

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Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1018

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Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1018

A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a cybersecurity circuit rider program to provide cybersecurity-related technical assistance to certain entities that operate rural water or wastewater systems.