In committee
Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025
This legislation renews the Secure Rural Schools program through 2026, providing federal funding to rural counties that contain tax-exempt federal forestlands. The money supports local school districts, road maintenance, emergency services, and wildfire prevention projects. It also requires the federal government to issue overdue payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days, minus any timber revenue shares counties have already collected for those years.
People affected—The bill applies to eligible forested counties and states, but does not specify population counts or eligible individual numbers in the operative text.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach38provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Spending vs. restraint+30Federal lands & resources+35Public school funding+35Public works+30
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Eligible forested states and countiesReceives reauthorized Secure Rural Schools payments through fiscal year 2026, prompt disbursement of delayed fiscal year 2024 and 2025 payments within 45 days (offset by any timber revenue sharing received), and extended authority through fiscal year 2029 to spend funds on local projects under Sec. 2(a)-(d).
- Local Resource Advisory CommitteesMaintains flexibility through fiscal year 2026 under Sec. 2(c)(1) and Sec. 3 via extended membership composition waiver authorities and the simplified member appointment pilot program, alongside extended project initiation deadlines through fiscal year 2028 under Sec. 2(c)(2).
Who it burdens
- Department of the TreasuryMandated by Sec. 2(a)(1)(B) to issue all title payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days of enactment, subtracting prior timber revenue-sharing distributions from the totals.
Who backs it
- Federal governmentProvides federal funds for Secure Rural Schools payments to eligible states and counties through fiscal year 2026 under Sec. 2(a).