The Rural Utilities Service Modernization Act requires the Department of Agriculture to create a secure online platform allowing recipients of Rural Utilities Service grants to track their project status through the permitting and review process, including environmental reviews and coordination with other federal agencies. The platform must include clear status indicators, estimated timelines, document upload and download capabilities, automated notifications, and coordination with multiple federal agencies. The bill also establishes a new grant program providing up to 75 percent funding for predevelopment activities like feasibility studies and permitting assistance for rural utilities projects, and requires the Rural Utilities Service to standardize timelines for funding opportunity announcements and move to online grant applications within two years. The legislation authorizes $30 million total for platform development and operations through fiscal year 2035, and $15 million annually from 2026 through 2035 for predevelopment planning grants. Within two years of enactment, the department must report to Congress on staffing efficiency and make recommendations to expedite rural project permitting.
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