HB6204 would extend the authorization for the large-scale water recycling grant program by amending Section 40905(k) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The change shifts the program’s authorized duration from 5 years to 10 years, providing a longer horizon for planning, budgeting, and delivering large-scale water recycling projects.
The bill preserves the existing program structure and does not alter funding amounts or eligibility beyond the extension. It was introduced in the House on November 20, 2025 by Rep.
Suzanne Lee (D-NV) with Rep. Ciscomani as co-sponsor and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Why this matters: extending the authorization window reduces the risk of funding gaps mid-project and supports long-term infrastructure planning for water resilience. For utilities, state agencies, and regional consortia relying on this program, a 10-year horizon helps align capital plans, procurement cycles, and intergovernmental coordination with federal funding availability.
At a Glance
What It Does
Extends the program’s authorization period from 5 years to 10 years by amending Section 40905(k) of IIJA. The change is strictly a duration extension and does not modify program scope or funding levels.
Who It Affects
Federal program administrators overseeing the grant program and potential grantees such as state and local water authorities and utilities pursuing large-scale recycling projects.
Why It Matters
Providing a decade-long authorization improves planning certainty, reduces funding disruption risk, and supports resilient water infrastructure planning for communities relying on federal grants.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill makes a single, substantive change: it extends the authorization for the federal large-scale water recycling grant program. By replacing the phrase “5 years” with “10 years” in the relevant section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the program can operate under a longer statutory horizon.
This is not a new program, nor does it add new funding or alter eligibility; it simply guarantees a longer window during which the program can authorize and disburse grants, subject to appropriations.
In practical terms, the extension supports long-range project planning for utilities and local governments that depend on these grants to finance water recycling and reuse initiatives. While the bill does not change program scope, the longer authorization period can reduce planning risk, enable staged procurements, and improve coordination with other funding streams and infrastructure projects.
The act’s formal short title is the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, and the bill was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources for consideration.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill extends the authorization period for the program from 5 to 10 years by amending IIJA Section 40905(k).
No new funding levels, eligibility criteria, or program scope are introduced beyond the extension.
Short title: Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act.
Introduced in the 119th Congress on November 20, 2025 by Rep. Suzanne Lee (D-NV) with Rep. Ciscomani as co-sponsor.
The bill relies on existing program structure and appropriations; it does not create new authorities or funding streams.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short title
This section provides the official designation of the act as the Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act. It establishes the nomenclature used for the bill in all subsequent references but does not alter policy or funding parameters.
Authorization extension for large-scale water recycling grants
This section amends Section 40905(k) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by striking the words “5 years” and inserting “10 years.” The practical effect is to extend the program's authorized duration, enabling a longer federal funding horizon for water recycling projects without changing the program’s overall scope or funding amounts.
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Who Benefits
- State and local water authorities planning or implementing large-scale recycling projects gain a longer, more predictable funding horizon for capital planning and execution.
- Water utilities pursuing recycling and reuse initiatives can schedule multi-year procurement and construction cycles with reduced funding uncertainty.
- Regional consortia and municipalities that rely on federal grants for infrastructure projects experience greater budgeting certainty and project continuity.
- Federal program administrators can plan and manage grant cycles more efficiently with fewer mid-term interruptions.
- Engineering firms and construction companies working on water infrastructure benefit from clearer project timetables and consistence in grant flow.
Who Bears the Cost
- Taxpayers, to the extent federal funds are appropriated to cover the program over a longer horizon, bear the cost of ongoing program support and disbursements.
- State and local agencies that administer grants may incur ongoing compliance, reporting, and administrative costs associated with managing multi-year programs.
- Utilities and project sponsors face ongoing capital outlays tied to grant-supported activities, though these costs are generally offset by federal support.
- The procurement and contracting ecosystem may experience longer planning phases and extended bid cycles in alignment with multi-year funding windows.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing a longer, more predictable funding horizon with the need for sufficient, timely appropriations. Extending the authorization helps planning but may not guarantee expanded resources, creating a dilemma between stability and real-resource availability.
The bill delivers a straightforward extension, but it raises practical policy questions about funding sufficiency and administration over a longer horizon. While the longer authorization improves certainty, it does not guarantee additional appropriations; the availability of funds remains dependent on annual or multi-year appropriations.
That dynamic means the bill’s effectiveness hinges on future budget decisions. Implementers must maintain compatibility with existing grant cycles, reporting requirements, and eligibility criteria that are unchanged by the amendment.
A central consideration is how the extended horizon interacts with project lifecycles and intergovernmental coordination. Longer authorization can smooth planning across multiple fiscal years but could also defer necessary funding increases if budgets tighten.
The extension thus represents a trade-off between predictable program continuity and the risk of insufficient funding to realize the full potential of large-scale water recycling initiatives.
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