To extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.
Key claim: HR6535 extends Secure Rural Schools payments to states and counties containing federal land through FY2026 (including FY2024–2025 payments) and extends county and resource-advisory-committee project authorities through FY2028.
Abstract
(HR6535 · 119th Congress) This bill extends and modifies the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, including by extending payments made to states and counties containing federal land through FY2026, providing for payments for FY2024 and FY2025, extending the authority of counties to initiate projects using such funds through FY2028, and extending the authority to initiate projects proposed by resource advisory committees through FY2028. Latest action (2026-01-13): Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
Why this matters
Secure Rural Schools payments substitute for lost timber-receipt revenue sharing in counties containing federal land, funding rural schools, roads, and forest stewardship projects; a lapse in reauthorization directly reduces county budgets and Forest Service partner project capacity. An extension through FY2026 (with project authorities through FY2028) preserves the status quo for rural county finances and Title II/III project pipelines without changing eligibility, formulas, or the mix of payments to states, counties, and resource-advisory-committee projects.