The Office of Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick reports that Hadwick traveled to the nation’s capital in May to join a bipartisan delegation of rural advocates in pushing for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act — a vital source of funding for public schools, road maintenance and emergency services in forested counties like those in the 1st Assembly District.
Hadwick was one of over 40 delegates from across five states and the District of Columbia who joined the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition to meet with members of Congress and advocate for a long-term renewal of SRS funding. She emphasized the program’s critical role in sustaining essential services for rural communities — particularly in Northern California, where over half of the state’s SRS funding flows to her 11-county district.
The Secure Rural Schools Act, first enacted in 2000, was created to offset the loss of local tax revenue caused by the tax-exempt status of federal forest lands. Prior to the decline of the timber industry in the mid-1980s, counties relied on timber receipts to fund infrastructure and education. But with a drop of over 85% in federal timber revenue, rural communities have become increasingly dependent on SRS to fill the gap.
Since 2012, California has received $38 million in SRS funding each year, including a significant $33 million disbursed in 2024 alone. The 1st Assembly District received nearly 58% of that — approximately $19 million this year — reflecting the region’s vast federal land base and high need. These funds support over 4,400 schools nationwide, including schools in 39 counties across California. By law, half of the funding goes directly to public school districts, while the other half supports county-maintained roads and essential local services…