U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) has expressed approval following the bipartisan passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation aims to assist counties with significant federal forest lands by offsetting lost revenue and maintaining essential local services.
The House vote came after a letter from Senator Curtis and other lawmakers advocating for renewal of the program, as well as unanimous passage in the Senate.
“Secure Rural Schools is a promise kept to counties that educate kids, maintain roads, and protect public safety in the shadow of federal forests,” said Curtis. “I am grateful the House made this move with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to the President signing the bill quickly so Utah’s rural counties can depend on the stable, predictable funding they deserve.”
Utah contains large areas of federally managed forest land exempt from local property taxes. Payments under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program are seen as vital support for these communities. After authorization for SRS lapsed in September 2023, many counties across the country experienced significant drops in expected payments. This led to consequences such as school closures, delayed road and bridge maintenance, and reduced public safety services. The 2025 reauthorization seeks to restore financial certainty for affected areas.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act was originally enacted in 2000 to provide counties with funding options supporting public services including road maintenance, infrastructure projects, education, wildfire mitigation efforts, and public safety initiatives. Congress has repeatedly reauthorized SRS payments with broad bipartisan backing; however, its most recent authorization expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2023.
Senator Curtis has maintained his support for policies designed to strengthen rural economies, improve management of public lands, and ensure local governments are not financially burdened by federal land ownership.
