Counties that contain national forests or other federal land often lose out on property tax revenue because that land can't be taxed the way private land can. To make up for that, the federal government sends yearly payments to these counties to help fund schools, roads, and emergency services — a program that had expired after 2023. This bill extends those payments through 2026, and it also extends related programs, including special conservation projects on federal land and counties' authority to spend leftover funds, through 2028 and 2029. Rural communities near national forests, and specifically the public schools and road departments in those counties, are the ones affected.
Average Household Impact
- Secure Rural Schools payments — Extended through fiscal year 2026 for counties near national forests
Congressional Summary
Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025This act extends and modifies the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, under which states and counties containing certain federal land may receive payments from the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for schools, roads, and certain other municipal services.The act modifies the SRS program, including byextending payments made to states and counties containing federal land through FY2026,providing lapsed payments for FY2024 and FY2025,extending the authority of counties to initiate projects using such funds through FY2028, andextending the authority to initiate projects proposed by resource advisory committees through FY2028.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Public Law
- Action Date
- 2025-12-18
- Date Added
- 2026-07-16
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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