Summary of H.R. 6535 (119th Congress, Introduced Dec 9, 2025)

Purpose

• Extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRSCSA) and its related authorities. The bill updates funding timelines and program authorities through additional years (through 2028–2029 for certain authorities) and implements special provisions for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

Key Provisions and Changes

• Extension of funding timelines for Secure Payments (Section 101):

  • Replaces references to 2023 with 2026 in existing secure payments language.
  • Adds a new special rule for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 adjusting state and county payments to account for prior distributions, with the goal of ensuring timely payments:
  • State payments for 2024–2025 can be reduced if an eligible county had already received portions of the 25-percent state share.
  • County payments for 2024–2025 can be reduced if an eligible county had already received portions of the 50-percent county share.
  • Payments under these special rules must be made within 45 days of enactment.
  • Updates distribution references to use 2026 instead of 2023 for certain eligible counties.

• Payments to States and Counties (Section 102):

  • For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, the election rule referenced in subparagraphs is not required, and counties eligible for 2023 payments shall have those elections apply to 2024 and 2025.
  • Adds that certain elections applicable to 2023 payments shall be effective for 2024 and 2025.

• Special Projects on Federal Land (Section 208):

  • Extends authority to conduct special projects on federal land:
  • Committee composition waiver authority extended to 2026.
  • Authority to conduct special projects extended to 2028 (activity) and 2029 (related authority updates).

• County Funds Expenditures (Section 305):

  • Extends authorization to expend county funds through 2028 (instead of 2025) and related authority through 2029 (instead of 2026).

• Resource Advisory Committee Pilot Program (Section 205):

  • Extends pilot program provisions through 2026.
  • Removes certain sunset-related provisions (deleting a paragraph ending).

• Technical Corrections (Section 3):

  • Makes minor editorial and cross-referencing fixes to improve consistency and usage in the statute.
  • Corrects wording in use of project funds and committee references.

Who Is Affected

• States and counties with counties containing federal land under SRSCSA.
• States and counties receiving Secure Rural Schools payments, including any adjustments for 2024–2025.
• Localities participating in the Resource Advisory Committee pilot and counties funding authorized under the act.
• Federal agencies administering SRSCSA programs and related projects on federal lands.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Introduced: December 9, 2025.
• Referral: House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Natural Resources (jurisdictional considerations to be determined by the Speaker).
• The bill proposes multi-year extensions and interim payment rules for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, with longer-term extensions for program authorities through 2028–2029.

Notes

• The bill is currently in the introductory stage and has not yet advanced to passage. It focuses on fiscal-year adjustments and extended authorities to ensure continuity of SRSCSA funding and related programs.