Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Special District Grant Accessibility Act (H.R. 7525), legislation introduced by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Pat Fallon (R-TX). The bill would codify a first-ever definition of “special district” in federal law and ensure that districts are eligible for all appropriate forms of federal financial assistance.

“There are 3,500 special districts in Colorado alone, which are responsible for critical services for our communities ranging from drinking water and wastewater management, to health care, transit, and natural resource conservation.” said Pettersen. “Unfortunately, special districts have not had a specific definition under federal law, meaning Coloradans in these areas are missing out on federal funding opportunities that help other communities with reliable ambulance service, wildfire protections and firefighters, pandemic response services, and more. I’m proud to work on this bipartisan bill with Congressman Fallon to help us better adapt to the complexity of local governments and ensure Coloradans and people across the country have access to the support they need.”

“The consequence of current law is that some communities served by special districts cannot access certain federal funding opportunities, which has a huge impact on the ability of special districts to provide vital services and meet community needs,” said Fallon.  “H.R. 7525 re-sets the board and ensures special districts have the resources, autonomy, and flexibility to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing their communities.”

Special districts are local public agencies created by community residents to deliver specialized services essential to their health, safety, economy, and well-being. Like cities and counties, special districts are public agencies; however, they provide necessary services that many cities and counties do not. H.R. 7525 would require the White House Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance to federal agencies requiring special districts to be recognized as local governments for the purpose of federal financial assistance determinations.

“We’re extremely grateful to Representatives Fallon and Pettersen for their strong leadership on behalf of special districts and for marshaling this historic bill through the House,” said Ann Terry, chair of the National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC). “We hope today’s overwhelming vote in the House sets the stage for timely action in the Senate and will carry H.R. 7525 through to the President’s desk, where it will be signed into law.”

According to NSDC, there are more than 35,000 special districts in the U.S. providing a range of infrastructure and essential community programs across the country including parks, water, sanitation, fire protection, ports, cemeteries, healthcare, electricity, pest control, and libraries.

To read the full bill text, click here.