Rural Communities Act (SB 250)
November 20, 2025
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Where This Stands
Currently Died in Messages. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.
Procedural history
13 actions- Jan 14, 2026HouseIn Messages
- Jan 14, 2026SenateImmediately certified
- Jan 14, 2026SenateFloorPassed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0
- Jan 14, 2026SenateFloorRead 3rd time
- Jan 14, 2026SenateAmendment(s) adopted (211610, 655052)
- Jan 14, 2026SenateFloorRead 2nd time
Show 7 earlier actions
- Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced
- Jan 12, 2026SenatePlaced on Special Order Calendar, 01/14/26
- Dec 10, 2025SenatePlaced on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Dec 10, 2025SenateCommitteeFavorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 16 NAYS 0
- Dec 1, 2025SenateOn Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 12/10/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Nov 21, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Appropriations
- Nov 20, 2025SenateIntroducedFiled
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
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.
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.
Last recorded activity November 20, 2025.
Introduced.
Summary
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?
How does this bill affect rural school districts?
What happens to the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)?
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
AARP
2026
“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
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS
LINCHPIN STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC
COMMUNITY BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
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
“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
Third Reading
Total
47
Yes
47
No
0
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (47)
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Shev Jones
Democratic · yes
Bryan Ávila
Republican · yes
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Ralph Massullo
Republican · yes
Joe Gruters
Republican · yes
Colleen Burton
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Debbie Mayfield
Republican · yes
Barbara Sharief
Democratic · yes
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Stan McClain
Republican · yes
Jennifer Bradley
Republican · yes
Kathleen Passidomo
Republican · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
LaVon Bracy Davis
Democratic · yes
Erin Grall
Republican · yes
Tracie Davis
Democratic · yes
Don Gaetz
Republican · yes
Kristen Arrington
Democratic · yes
Jason Brodeur
Republican · yes
Rosalind Osgood
Democratic · yes
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
+ 23 more
Favorable
Total
17
Yes
16
No
0
Present
0
Not Voting
0
Abstain
0
How they voted (17)
Tommy Wright
Republican · yes
Danny Burgess
Republican · yes
Dave Smith
Republican · yes
Ileana Garcia
Republican · other
Ed Hooper
Republican · yes
Barbara Sharief
Democratic · yes
Stan McClain
Republican · yes
Jonathan Martin
Republican · yes
Jason Pizzo
Independent · yes
Jay Trumbull
Republican · yes
Jason Brodeur
Republican · yes
Nick DiCeglie
Republican · yes
Darryl Rouson
Democratic · yes
Gayle Harrell
Republican · yes
Lori Berman
Democratic · yes
Erin Grall
Republican · yes
Tina Polsky
Democratic · yes
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
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
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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