For the first time since fiscal year (FY) 2016, Congress allowed the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program’s authorization to lapse. However, eligible states and counties still received more than $66 million in FY 2024 revenue sharing payments from the permanently authorized National Forest Payments to States program. Additionally, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Washington received a collective $5.2 million in Special Act Payments. Because these programs are funded through receipts in the year they are authorized, payments are made in Spring of the following fiscal year; state allocations for FY 2024 were calculated in March 2025.
Due to the expiration of SRS, payments declined $162 million (70%) compared to FY 2023. While rare, Congress could still authorize SRS for FY 2024 retroactively. This Issue Brief discusses the FY 2024 payments and provides background on these programs.