FORESTS Act of 2023
The FORESTS Act of 2023 establishes "Forest Active Management Areas" on National Forest System land to provide a dependable revenue source for counties that previously received payments under the Secure Rural Schools Act (2001-2015). It requires the Forest Service to manage these areas to meet annual timber sale volume requirements, with revenues distributed to beneficiary counties through 25-percent payments. The bill streamlines environmental reviews for forest management projects, including expedited Endangered Species Act compliance and alternative dispute resolution through arbitration instead of litigation. It also extends the maximum duration for stewardship contracts and prohibits using county payments to offset state funding for schools or local services.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 20, 2023
Last action Sep 21, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Sep 21, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
lower
Jun 20, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Jun 20, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
RRepublican
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