Development of global smart city or community best practices

(a) In general The Secretaries may carry out activities— (1) to enable cities and communities in the United States and other countries to work together toward shared smart city- or community-related goals; (2) to promote smart city or community solutions that provide measurable benefits to local governments and residents; (3) to enable an open, global marketplace for smart city or community technologies based on voluntary, consensus-based, and technology-neutral standards; and (4) to connect innovators from industry and academia to local governments to catalyze the emergence of open and advanced technologies that— (A) meet community needs; and (B) advance innovation and open competition. (b) Eligible activities The activities described in subsection (a) may include grants, contracts, challenges, prize competitions, public-private partnerships, and other innovative mechanisms. (c) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. (2) Limitation on use of funds Funds made available under paragraph (1) may not be used to provide assistance to— (A) a foreign country; or (B) a foreign company (excluding any United States subsidiary of a foreign holding company).