Rep. LaMalfa Leads House in Renewing Secure Rural Schools Payments

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) led the effort in the House of Representatives to pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which reauthorizes Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments to rural counties in Northern California and across the country. This legislation, passed by a vote of 399-5, is the first time in recent history that legislation reauthorizing this program passed as a standalone bill.

The SRS program was last reauthorized in 2021 and expired in Fiscal Year 2023 with the last set of payments going out in 2024. Counties have already missed critical payments this year, and future payments were in jeopardy with the program expired. Congressman LaMalfa introduced legislation to reauthorize SRS payments in the House, and worked with the Speaker and Majority Leader since the beginning of the year to bring an SRS bill to the House floor for a vote.

“For rural counties, Secure Rural Schools funding is essential,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These payments help keep schools open, keep roads maintained, and help ensure sheriff, fire, and emergency services remain in place when federal timber revenues fall short. When the program lapsed, rural schools and counties were cut short of the funding they rely on to provide basic services. This bill restores that funding and keeps future payments on schedule. What we actually need is to rebuild a strong timber economy so these areas can rely on real revenue again.”

Since its enactment, the SRS program has provided $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school districts across 40 states.

In 2024, California received $33.7 million in SRS payments, including over $12 million for counties located in the First Congressional District. However, when the program lapsed, payments reverted to a different formula, and most counties saw an 80% reduction in funding. This resulted in teachers being laid off, schools forced to make cuts, and roads left unrepaired.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act restores the missed 2024 payment and authorizes payments for 2025 and 2026. Once this bill is signed into law and SRS payments are made, rural counties and schools should be able to restart programs and rehire teachers and staff.

You can view Rep. LaMalfa leading debate on the House floor here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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