Half-Century Update for Water Access and Affordability Act

The Half-Century Update for Water Access and Affordability Act establishes a federal program to provide financial assistance to low-income households struggling to pay water bills. It requires states and water utilities to implement programs that offer direct bill discounts, debt relief, water efficiency upgrades, and crisis assistance to households earning up to 200% of the poverty level or 80% of local median income. The bill prohibits disconnections for non-payment, allows automatic enrollment for households already receiving other federal assistance, and mandates data collection to track program impacts on water service access. The legislation authorizes $20 billion annually from 2025-2035 to fund this assistance, with specific requirements to ensure universal access and prevent discrimination in program implementation.