This bill keeps money flowing to rural schools and counties that sit on or near federal land like national forests. Since the year 2000, the federal government has been sharing a portion of revenue from these public lands with local communities to help fund schools and other services. This bill extends that program through 2026, making sure states and counties continue receiving these payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. It also gives counties more time—through 2028—to start projects using this money, whether those are school improvements, infrastructure work, or community development. Additionally, local resource advisory committees (groups of community members who help decide how to use these funds) get extended authority through 2028 to propose and initiate their own projects. Essentially, this bill is a reauthorization that keeps an existing program alive and gives communities more flexibility in how and when they can spend the federal money they receive.

Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025

Crapo, Mike

Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025This bill extends and modifies the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, including by<ul><li>extending payments made to states and counties containing federal land through FY2026,</li><li>providing for payments for FY2024 and FY2025,</li><li>extending the authority of counties to initiate projects using such funds through FY2028, and</li><li>extending the authority to initiate projects proposed by resource advisory committees through FY2028.</li></ul>