Rural Area Population Act

This bill aims to establish a uniform definition of "rural area" for all rural development programs administered by the Department of Agriculture. It achieves this by amending Section 343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, which serves as the primary definition for USDA rural programs. Conforming amendments are also made to the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 and the Housing Act of 1949 to ensure consistency across various programs.

The legislation expands the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to designate certain areas as rural, even if they are located within an urban area. These areas can be designated if they exhibit persistent poverty, a high concentration of farmworker households, or a significant infrastructure gap, such as lacking access to potable water or reliable electricity. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary to prioritize and maintain eligibility for "high-need rural pockets," defined as small, distinct settlements surrounded by urban areas but lacking urban services and having at least a 20 percent poverty rate, including tribal lands and farmworker settlements. The amendments will take effect 180 days after enactment, with a grandfather provision protecting existing rural area designations until 2030 census data becomes available.