H.R. 6535 – To extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

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Updated December 27, 2025 at 5:41 AM UTC

The bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, allowing the program that provides federal payments to states and counties with federal land to continue beyond its current expiration. It updates payment schedules for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, prevents duplicate payments, and lengthens the authority for special projects and county fund use. The changes affect eligible states, counties, and the federal agencies that administer the program.

Key Provisions

Changes the program’s expiration dates, moving references from 2023 to 2026 so payments can continue through fiscal year 2026.
Adds a special rule for FY 2024 and 2025 that reduces state and county payments if a county has already received a portion of the 25% or 50% payments, avoiding double funding.
Extends the authority for conducting special projects on federal land to fiscal years 2028 (for one section) and 2029 (for another).
Extends the authority for counties to spend allocated funds to fiscal years 2028 and 2029.
Prolongs the Resource Advisory Committee pilot program to 2026 and removes an outdated paragraph.
Makes minor technical wording corrections to sections of the act.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

January 13, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 9, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Agriculture Committee

December 9, 2025

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

January 13, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 9, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6535

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 9, 2025

Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

1.

Extension of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000

(a)

Secure payments for States and counties containing Federal land

(1)

Secure payments

Section 101 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7111) is amended—

(A)

in subsections (a) and (b), by striking 2023 each place it appears and inserting 2026; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Special rule for fiscal year 2024 and 2025 payments

(1)

State payment

If an eligible county in a State that will receive a share of the State payment for fiscal year 2024 or 2025 has already received, or will receive, a share of the 25-percent payment for that fiscal year distributed to the State before the date of enactment of this subsection, the amount of the State payment shall be reduced by the amount of the share of the eligible county of the 25-percent payment.

(2)

County payment

If an eligible county that will receive a county payment for fiscal year 2024 or 2025 has already received a 50-percent payment for that fiscal year, the amount of the county payment shall be reduced by the amount of the 50-percent payment.

(3)

Prompt payment

Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make all payments under this title for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

.

(2)

Distribution of payments to eligible counties

Section 103(d)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7113(d)(2)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2026.

(b)

Payments to States and counties

Section 102 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7112) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:

(E)

Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025

The election otherwise required by subparagraph (A) shall not apply for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Fiscal years 2024 and 2025

The election described in paragraph (1)(A) applicable to a county in fiscal year 2023 shall be effective for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

; and

(2)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:

(G)

Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025

The election made by an eligible county under subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) for fiscal year 2023, or deemed to be made by the county under paragraph (3)(B) for that fiscal year, shall be effective for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

; and

(B)

in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:

(E)

Payments for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025

This paragraph does not apply for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

.

(c)

Extension of authority To conduct special projects on Federal land

(1)

Committee composition waiver authority

Section 205(d)(6)(C) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125(d)(6)(C)) is amended by striking 2023 and inserting 2026.

(2)

Extension of authority

Section 208 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7128) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a), by striking 2025 and inserting 2028; and

(B)

in subsection (b), by striking 2026 and inserting 2029.

(d)

Extension of authority To expend county funds

Section 305 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7144) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking 2025 and inserting 2028; and

(2)

in subsection (b), by striking 2026 and inserting 2029.

2.

Resource advisory committee pilot program extension

Section 205(g) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125(g)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (5), by striking 2023 and inserting 2026; and

(2)

by striking paragraph (6).

3.

Technical corrections

(a)

Resource advisory committees

Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking concerned, and inserting concerned; and

(B)

in paragraph (3), by striking the date of the enactment of this Act and inserting October 3, 2008; and

(2)

in subsection (d)(4), by striking to extent and inserting to the extent.

(b)

Use of project funds

Section 206(b)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7126(b)(2)) is amended by striking concerned, and inserting concerned.