What does Preamble of Rural Area Population Act do?

This bill aims to establish a uniform definition of 'rural area' for all rural development programs administered by the Department of Agriculture.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Rural Area Population Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Rural Area Population Act.

What does UNIFORM DEFINITION OF ``RURAL AREA'' FOR USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT of Rural Area Population Act do?

This section amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify the definition of 'rural area' for USDA Rural Development programs. The amendments primarily involve replacing instances of 'urbanized' with 'urban' throughout the specified sections of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 is amended to reference the definition of 'rural area' as defined in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 is amended to adopt the definition of 'rural area' from the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and redefines sections related to legacy areas. Subparagraphs within the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act are redesignated to reflect the changes made by the amendments.

What does EXPANSION OF ``RURAL IN CHARACTER'' AUTHORITY. of Rural Area Population Act do?

This section amends Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. It establishes authority for the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of the Census, to designate certain areas as rural areas. Areas eligible for designation include census tracts, census-designated places, or unincorporated areas with fewer than 35,000 inhabitants. Designation is possible regardless of whether the area is within an urban area. Eligible areas must exhibit persistent poverty, a high concentration of farmworker households, or a significant infrastructure gap. “Persistent poverty” is defined as at least 20 percent of the population being below the poverty line in the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses. “High concentration” is defined as a percentage of farmworker households exceeding the national or state average, as determined by the Secretary. “Significant infrastructure gap” means lacking access to potable water, wastewater treatment, or reliable electricity meeting Federal standards.

What does DESIGNATION OF HIGH-NEED RURAL POCKETS AS RURAL AREAS. of Rural Area Population Act do?

This section amends Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. It adds a definition for 'High-need rural pockets' to prioritize small, geographically distinct settlements for rural area designation. The Secretary will use indicators, such as Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes, at the census tract level to make these determinations. Priority will be given to settlements surrounded by urban areas lacking urban services and having a poverty rate of at least 20 percent. This includes tribal lands and farmworker settlements. The term 'farmworker settlement' is defined as an area where over 50 percent of households derive primary income from agricultural labor.

What does EFFECTIVE DATE. of Rural Area Population Act do?

This section establishes the effective date for the amendments made by this Act. The amendments will become effective 180 days after the Act's enactment.

What does RULEMAKING. of Rural Area Population Act do?

The Secretary of Agriculture is required to establish rules to implement amendments made by this Act. Rural area designations made prior to the Act's effective date, under section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, will not be changed until data from the 2030 decennial census is available.

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Rural Area Population Act

Last updated: 4/20/2026 · Introduced: 4/20/2026

Author: Raul Ruiz (D-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a standardized definition of 'rural area' for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural development programs by replacing 'urbanized' with 'urban' in relevant legislation.
It expands the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to designate areas as rural, including those with fewer than 35,000 inhabitants exhibiting persistent poverty, a high concentration of farmworker households, or significant infrastructure gaps.
The bill prioritizes the designation of 'high-need rural pockets,' defined as small settlements surrounded by urban areas lacking services and experiencing high poverty rates, including tribal lands and farmworker settlements.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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