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Where This Stands

Currently Died in Messages. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. Jan 14, 2026House
    In Messages
  2. Jan 14, 2026Senate
    Immediately certified
  3. Jan 14, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0
  4. Jan 14, 2026SenateFloor
    Read 3rd time
  5. Jan 14, 2026Senate
    Amendment(s) adopted (211610, 655052)
  6. Jan 14, 2026SenateFloor
    Read 2nd time
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Introduced
  2. Jan 12, 2026Senate
    Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/14/26
  3. Dec 10, 2025Senate
    Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
  4. Dec 10, 2025SenateCommittee
    Favorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 16 NAYS 0
  5. Dec 1, 2025Senate
    On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 12/10/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
  6. Nov 21, 2025SenateCommittee
    Referred to Appropriations
  7. Nov 20, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill would have significantly restructured how state agencies prioritize rural communities, allocating millions in new funding for infrastructure, transit, and teacher retention in designated rural areas of opportunity.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Rural local governments

These entities gain access to new grant programs, technical assistance from regional liaison centers, and expedited payment processes.

Rural educators

Eligible teachers and administrators in rural areas of opportunity may receive student loan repayment assistance.

Fiscally constrained counties

The definition of these counties is expanded, potentially increasing their eligibility for state financial distributions.

What changed

Last recorded activity November 20, 2025.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill creates the Office of Rural Prosperity to coordinate state support for rural areas and establishes several new grant programs for infrastructure, transit, and economic development. It also provides funding for student loan repayment for educators in rural areas and mandates new transportation investments for rural s.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

The bill would have significantly restructured how state agencies prioritize rural communities, allocating millions in new funding for infrastructure, transit, and teacher retention in designated rural areas of opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'growth-impeded' county?
A county that has experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years, as certified by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
How does this bill affect rural school districts?
It provides funding for regional consortium service organizations and creates a student loan repayment program for teachers and administrators who live and work in rural areas of opportunity.
What happens to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)?
REDI is moved under the newly created Office of Rural Prosperity, and its meeting and reporting requirements are updated.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

AARP

$4,110,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDLAW ENFORCEMENT/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICEPHARMACY

P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology

SLOAT HIGGINS JENSENAND ASSOCIATES

on behalf of RURAL COMMUNITIES ASSISTANCE CORPORATION

Senate LDAView filing →

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS

$30,000

LINCHPIN STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC

COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS

$65,000

VENABLE LLP

on behalf of ADVOCATE HEALTH

KELLER PARTNERS & COMPANY

on behalf of KNOX COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

BRYANT SONGY SNELL LLC

on behalf of SHARKEY ISSAQUENA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

(C) MANAGEMENT INC.

on behalf of Association of Community Cancer Centers

2021

GOVERNMENT ISSUESHEALTH ISSUES

THE TELEHEALTH MODERNIZATION ACT (H.R. 1332/ S.368) Organized a Virtual Capitol Hill Day for ACCC members (70+) on May 12th, 2021. Created one-pagers and talking points on importance of this legislation. ACCC views telehealth expansion as critical for cancer patient access to healthcare providers. THE SAFE STEP ACT (H.R.2163/S.464) Organized a Virtual Capitol Hill Day for ACCC members (70+) on May 12th, 2021. Created one-pagers and talking points on importance of this legislation. ACCC views step therapy in the use of cancer care delivery to be a hinderance to best practice and timely treatment/access of care for patients. THE ACCESS TO GENETIC COUNSELOR SERVICES ACT (H.R. 2144/S.1450) Organized a Virtual Capitol Hill Day for ACCC members (70+) on May 12th, 2021. Created one-pagers and talking points on importance of this legislation. ACCC views genetic counselors as integral members of the cancer care delivery team in oncology programs/practices in the US. THE RESEARCH INVESTMENT TO SPARK THE ECONOMY (RISE) ACT (H.R. 869/S.289) Organized a Virtual Capitol Hill Day for ACCC members (70+) on May 12th, 2021. Created one-pagers and talking points on importance of this legislation. ACCC understands the importance of research funding for the NIH and oncology investigators to promote clinical trials that impact improving cancer outcomes. THE MEDICARE MULTI-CANCER EARLY DETECTION SCREENING COVERAGE ACT OF 2021 (H.R. 1946) Organized a Virtual Capitol Hill Day for ACCC members (70+) on May 12th, 2021. Created one-pagers and talking points on importance of this legislation. ACCC advocates for the use and coverage of cancer screening modalities that will diagnose cancer at earlier stages therefore improving patient outcomes. MOST FAVORED NATION (Proposed by Trump Administration at end of 2020) ACCC entered into a lawsuit against HHS in December 2020 opposing the Most Favored Nation proposal tying drug reimbursements to international reference pricing. By lowering reimbursement to cancer programs and practices, patient access to care would be limited as supportive cancer care services limited due to lack of reimbursement to cover positions. ACCC was concerned over programs/practices closing if proposal were to move forward. ACCC met with one Senators office on this topic expressing concern in January 2021. RADIATION ONCOLOGY MODEL (Proposed by CMMI) ACCC met with 1 Senate office and 1 House office over concerns re: this alternative payment model. ACCC has concerns over mandatory nature of Radiation Oncology model testing reimbursement rates and potentially limiting access to care for patients who are recommended radiation for their cancer diagnosis, particularly in rural areas of the U.S.

Voting Record

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Centralization of Rural Policy

The bill shifts rural development authority from the general Department of Commerce to a specialized, newly created Office of Rural Prosperity.

Connected Entities

location412 Knott BuildingLocation of Appropriations Committee meeting.Map →
dollar_amount655052Amendment amount.Map →
dollar_amount39Number of votes in favor of the bill.Map →
dollar_amount16Number of votes in favor of the bill.Map →
dollar_amount211610Amendment amount.Map →
organizationAppropriationsThe committee responsible for reviewing the bill.Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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