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

This bill aims to extend certain provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS) through 2026. Here’s a breakdown of the main points:

Extension of Payments

The bill proposes to extend secure payments to states and counties that contain federal land. Specifically, it will:

• Change the reference of the year 2023 to 2026 in the act, allowing for continued financial support to eligible counties.
• Adjust the payment structure for eligible counties receiving funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to prevent overlapping payments, meaning if a county has already received a payment, their amount may be reduced accordingly.
• Require prompt payments from the Secretary of the Treasury for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 within 45 days after the bill becomes law.

Payment Distribution

The bill also addresses how payments will be distributed to eligible counties. Specific changes include:

• Updating references to the fiscal year in Section 103 of the act to align with the new payment timeline (from 2023 to 2026).

Changes to Elections for Payments

There are provisions regarding how counties elect to receive payments. The bill allows:

• For the terms of decisions made by counties in terms of receiving payments in fiscal year 2023 to extend through fiscal years 2024 and 2025, indicating that previous decisions will continue to apply.

Extension of Special Projects Authority

The bill also extends the authority to conduct special projects on federal land until 2029. This includes provisions that allow resource advisory committees to continue their work in this area and emphasizes the continuation of specific project funding.

Resource Advisory Committees

The legislation seeks to extend the operation of resource advisory committees, which play a role in advising on the use of federal funds for public land projects.

Technical Corrections

Additionally, the bill makes technical corrections to clarify language and improve the overall administration of the act. These corrections include dates and wording adjustments to align with the legislative intent of the original act.

Relevant Companies

None found.