Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines has introduced a bill aimed at supporting Montana's rural schools by reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through Fiscal Year 2026. This program, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, assists counties that previously depended on timber receipts but no longer receive such funding due to reduced logging projects.

Montana counties like Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite and Jefferson have historically benefited from SRS payments.

Daines emphasized the importance of the program: "Montana’s rural counties rely on SRS for school funding, road maintenance and more. This bipartisan legislation will give our rural communities that have large amounts of federal lands the support and resources they need to continue operating and it is crucial that the program is reauthorized."

The Secure Rural Schools initiative was first enacted in 2000 to aid counties with public forestlands exempt from taxes. It involves funds administered by both the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The payment amounts are determined based on factors such as economic activity and timber harvest levels.

Daines is joined by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jim Justice (R-W.V.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in introducing this legislation.