ARPA funds for water and wastewater projects.

HB 6 establishes a Wyoming program to distribute federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. It authorizes the Wyoming Water Development Office to award grants to eligible local governments and utilities for projects meeting federal ARPA criteria, with grants capped at 85% of project costs or $7.5 million per project, whichever is lower. The program requires applications reviewed for eligibility, prioritizes projects through a commission, and mandates repayment if projects are abandoned or deemed ineligible. Grants must be awarded by October 1, 2024, and the program terminates December 30, 2026, with strict accountability measures for fund usage.