Congress Passes Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization
December 10, 2025
Last night, the House passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the program for FY24-FY26. As a reminder, the program provides critical resources for counties and schools that are near National Forest Land and unable to generate property tax revenue.
The Senate passed the measure earlier this summer, so it will now go to the White House for the President’s signature. The counties and school districts who rely on this funding will soon receive the payments they should have gotten in April.
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released the following statement on the passage of the bill:
“Today’s bipartisan passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act delivers long-overdue certainty for rural communities, schools, and public services that depend on these funds to survive. For too long, counties with federal land have seen an unfair decline in timber revenue through no fault of their own. This legislation ensures rural students and families aren’t left behind simply because of where they live.”