Press Release
For Immediate Release
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Oregon Lawmakers Celebrate Congressional Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Funding, Providing Relief for Rural Oregon Counties
SALEM, Ore. – Today, Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), Representative Court Boice (R-Gold Beach), and Representative Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg) applaud the passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, through Congress, and highlight its benefit for Oregon counties.
“As a former County Commissioner and AOCC Board Member, I know all too well how important SRS is to counties to fund services for residents. Congress has failed to reauthorize this critical funding since 2024, but with the passage of S. 356, the reauthorization includes previous payments through FY 2026. I sincerely appreciate the collaborative efforts, understanding, and leadership of Congresswoman Hoyle and Congressman Bentz to get this done for our residents,” said Senator Brock Smith.
S. 356 extends and modifies the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, including by:
- Extending payments made to states and counties containing federal land through FY 2026;
- Providing for payments for FY 2024 and FY 2025;
- Extending the authority of counties to initiate projects using such funds through FY 2028; and
- Extending the authority to initiate projects proposed by resource advisory committees through FY 2028.
“Representing the ‘Timber Capitol of the World’, I am grateful these resources are finally coming to assist in funding county services for residents,” said Representative Osborne. “I want to thank Association of O&C Counties President, Commissioner Tim Freeman, for his tireless leadership and all of the O&C Commissioners for their commitment to get this done.”
“As a former County Commissioner and AOCC Board Member, this should never have been a fight,” said Representative Boice. “These resources are an obligation under the O&C Act and the massive amounts of federal land within our counties, and I appreciate their congressional reauthorization.”
“Although this reauthorization will provide needed breathing room for a number of our county budgets, it does not come close to covering the inflationary costs of services to residents and is not a permanent solution,” said Senator Brock Smith. “We will continue to work with our federal partners in Congress, as well as county and state leaders through my role in the Senate and as Co-Chair of the CSG West Wildfire & Disaster Preparedness Committee, to move forward congressional reforms for increased harvest levels on our federal lands. This will help ensure increased revenues to counties to fund services for citizens, revitalize rural jobs in our forest and wood product industries, help mitigate catastrophic wildfire, and move the needle on reducing increasing insurance premiums. We are again grateful for the funding in this SRS reauthorization as a bridge to get to the needed future reforms,” concluded Senator Brock Smith.
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Senator David Brock Smith represents Senate District 1, which includes Curry, Coos and Douglas Counties, Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm & Forestry District. This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Senator David Brock Smith’s office are available on the web at: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
Yours Truly,
 Senator David Brock Smith
Together, We Will Build a Better Oregon
 Senate District 1
Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties
Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm, and Forestry District.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-316, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
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