View at GPO ↗
II
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5607
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 30, 2026

Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to restore the full 75-percent payment to counties from the Oregon and California land-grant fund, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Clarification Act.

Sec. 2. Restoration of Oregon and California land-grant fund payments to counties

(a) In general

Section 3(10) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7102(10)) is amended—

(1)

by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means and inserting the following:

(10) BLM revenue-based payment

The term BLM revenue-based payment means;

(2)

by striking 50-percent;

(3)

by striking (chapter 876; 50 Stat. 875; 43 U.S.C. 1181f) and inserting (50 Stat. 875, chapter 876; 43 U.S.C. 2605); and

(4)

by striking (chapter 144; 53 Stat. 753; 43 U.S.C. 1181f–1 et seq.) and inserting (53 Stat. 753, chapter 144; 43 U.S.C. 2621 et seq.).

(b) Technical and conforming amendments

(1)

Section 3 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7102) is amended—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(1) Forest Service adjusted share

The term Forest Service adjusted share means;

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking base share and inserting Forest Service base share; and

(iii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (8)(A) and inserting paragraph (1)(A);

(B)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(2) Forest Service base share

The term Forest Service base share means;

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

in clause (i), by striking Federal land described in paragraph (7)(A) and inserting covered National Forest System land; and

(II)

in clause (ii), by inserting of before acres; and

(iii)

in subparagraph (B)—

(I)

in clause (i), by striking 25-percent payments and inserting Forest Service revenue-based payments; and

(II)

in clause (ii), by striking paragraph (9)(B)(i) and inserting paragraph (2)(B)(i);

(C)

in paragraph (4)(A), by striking (as defined in paragraph (7));

(D)

in paragraph (6), by striking 25-percent payment and inserting Forest Service revenue-based payment;

(E)

in paragraph (8)—

(i)

by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(8) BLM adjusted share

The term BLM adjusted share means;

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 50-percent base share and inserting BLM base share; and

(iii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1)(A) and inserting paragraph (11)(A);

(F)

in paragraph (9)—

(i)

by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(9) BLM base share

The term BLM base share means;

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking Federal land described in paragraph (7)(B) and inserting covered BLM land; and

(iii)

in subparagraph (B)—

(I)

in clause (i), by striking 50-percent payments and inserting BLM revenue-based payments; and

(II)

in clause (ii), by striking paragraph (2)(B)(i) and inserting paragraph (12)(B)(i);

(G)

in paragraph (15)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A), by striking the Federal land described in paragraph (7)(A) and inserting covered National Forest System land; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking the Federal land described in paragraph (7)(B) and inserting covered BLM land;

(H)

in paragraph (17), by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through means and inserting the following:

(17) Forest Service revenue-based payment

The term Forest Service revenue-based payment means;

(I)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (17) as paragraphs (11), (12), (4), (8), (7), (9), (10), (1), (2), (3), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), and (13), respectively;

(J)

in paragraph (10) (as so redesignated)—

(i)

in subparagraph (B), by striking (B) such and inserting the following:

(5) Covered BLM land

The term covered BLM land means such; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

by striking ; and at the end and inserting a period; and

(II)

by striking (A) land and inserting the following:

(A)

covered National Forest System land; and

(B)

covered BLM land.

(6) Covered National Forest System land

The term covered National Forest System land means land; and

(K)

by moving paragraphs (1) through (19) (as so designated) so as to appear in numerical order.

(2)

Section 101 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7111) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a)(1), by striking adjusted share and inserting Forest Service adjusted share;

(B)

in subsection (b)(1), by striking 50-percent adjusted share and inserting BLM adjusted share;

(C)

by striking 25-percent payment each place it appears and inserting Forest Service revenue-based payment; and

(D)

by striking 50-percent payment each place it appears and inserting BLM revenue-based payment.

(3)

Section 102 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7112) is amended—

(A)

in subsections (a) and (b)—

(i)

by striking 25-percent payment each place it appears and inserting Forest Service revenue-based payment; and

(ii)

by striking 50-percent payment each place it appears and inserting BLM revenue-based payment;

(B)

in subsection (c)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Federal land described in section 3(7)(A) and inserting covered National Forest System land;

(C)

in subsection (d)(1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

in the subparagraph heading, by striking 25-percent payment or 50-percent payment and inserting forest service revenue-based payment or BLM revenue-based payment; and

(II)

by striking the 25-percent payments or 50-percent payment and inserting the Forest Service revenue-based payments or the BLM revenue-based payments; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (D), by striking the 25-percent payments or 50-percent payments and inserting the Forest Service revenue-based payments or the BLM revenue-based payments; and

(D)

in subsection (f)(2), by striking the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) and 25-percent payments and inserting this Act and Forest Service revenue-based payments.

(4)

Section 201(4)(A) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121(4)(A)) is amended by striking the Federal land described in section 3(7)(B) and inserting covered BLM land.

(5)

Section 203(b)(6)(A) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7123(b)(6)(A)) is amended by striking the project, and inserting project.

(6)

Section 205(a)(3) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125(a)(3)) is amended by striking may, and inserting may.

Sec. 3. Clarification of election options

Section 102(b)(1)(A) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7112(b)(1)(A)) is amended—

(1)

by striking the subparagraph designation and heading and all that follows through as applicable, shall and inserting the following:

(A) Making of election

(i) In general

An election described in clause (ii) shall; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(ii) Election described

An election referred to in clause (i) is an election to receive, as applicable—

(I)

the county payment;

(II)

a share of the State payment;

(III)

the county payment and a share of the State payment;

(IV)

the BLM revenue-based payment;

(V)

a share of the Forest Service revenue-based payment;

(VI)

the BLM revenue-based payment and a share of the Forest Service revenue-based payment;

(VII)

the BLM revenue-based payment and a share of the State payment; or

(VIII)

the county payment and a share of the Forest Service revenue-based payment.