By Cris Alarcon — For News in El Dorado County
PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A bipartisan effort in Congress to revive the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination (SRS) program moved forward this year, offering the possibility of retroactive payments for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and an extension of SRS through fiscal year 2026 — measures that county officials say could ease pressure on local schools, roads and emergency services that serve communities on untaxed federal lands.
Key facts and timeline
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The Senate unanimously passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.356) in June 2025; companion legislation, H.R.1383, was introduced in the House in February 2025.
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Sponsors and a bipartisan coalition have urged swift House action to approve retroactive payments for FY 2024–2025 and reauthorize payments through FY 2026.
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The SRS program lapsed in September 2023; many counties experienced steep funding declines as payments reverted to older timber-sharing formulas. National analyses show payments dropped sharply after the lapse, reducing funds available to counties and school districts.
What SRS does for counties like El Dorado
The SRS program channels Forest Service receipts to counties that contain federal forest land — money that has been used for Title I school and road payments, Title II forest restoration and Title III county projects. El Dorado County participates in SRS-related activities locally, including an active Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) that evaluates Title II projects on the Eldorado National Forest. Those projects and payments are commonly cited as critical for maintaining rural roads, funding schools and supporting public safety in communities where large shares of land are off the tax rolls.
Local impact and stakes
El Dorado County contains significant tracts of federally owned forest land managed by the Eldorado National Forest; those lands provide no property tax base and thus historically made SRS and related receipts an important component of local revenue planning. County supervisors and school officials have warned that prolonged loss of SRS funding forces cuts, delays in road and bridge work, and stress on volunteer fire and emergency response budgets — services that are especially important in foothill and mountain communities.
What congressional backers say
In a December 2025 letter and accompanying press statements, sponsors described the fallout from the program lapse as “devastating,” saying counties and districts have faced large, sudden reductions in funding that translate into real closures and deferred maintenance. “These are not abstract policy debates; they are tangible consequences for local governments and the communities that steward untaxed federal lands,” the sponsors’ letter reads. The National Association of Counties also called the bipartisan push “necessary” to restore predictable funding.
“Predictable federal payments have been a lifeline for rural districts and county services,”
said Matthew Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties, in a statement backing congressional leaders.
“With unanimous Senate support and strong bipartisan support in the House, the path forward should be clear: SRS keeps schools operating, roads maintained and public safety services funded.”
With the Senate having passed S.356 and House versions pending, the bill’s fate rests with House leaders and the rules committee process. Advocacy groups representing rural counties and school districts are urging quick House action to secure retroactive payments that could be distributed if Congress approves the measure. If the House passes reauthorization and the president signs it, counties could see payments that cover lost receipts for FY 2024 and 2025 and a short extension of the program through FY 2026.
Why the timing matters for El Dorado County readers
El Dorado County budgets and community services planned during the funding gap remain vulnerable. Even a short extension and retroactive payments can free funds to restart deferred road maintenance projects, restore some school program budgets and support collaborative forest restoration projects overseen by the local RAC — projects that reduce wildfire risk and create local jobs. Residents and local officials should watch the House calendar and reach out to their members of Congress if they wish to weigh in.
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Source documents & reporting notes: Legislative text for S.356 and H.R.1383 on Congress.gov; press releases from Senate offices and coalition letters; U.S. Forest Service information on the Secure Rural Schools program and Eldorado National Forest Resource Advisory Committee; federal fiscal-analysis briefs on payment declines after SRS lapsed. Links: S.356 (text and status), H.R.1383 (text), Eldorado NF RAC page, FFIS issue brief.
