Small County PILT Parity Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8257
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T22:48:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Small County PILT Parity Act (H.R. 8257) aims to update the formula for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), which are federal payments to local governments to offset lost property tax revenue from tax-exempt federal lands (like national parks or forests) within their boundaries. It creates more population tiers for very small local governments to ensure fairer payments.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 6903(c) of Title 31, U.S. Code, which limits PILT payments for low-population local governments.
- Lowers the threshold for the lowest population tier from 4,999 to 499 residents.
- Starts the tiered table at 500 residents (previously 5,000), with specific multipliers applied to population size:
| Population Range | Multiplier per Person | |------------------|-----------------------| | 500 | $514.50 | | 1,000 | $404.56 | | ... (gradually decreasing) | ... | | 50,000 | $92.50 |
- Adjusts rounding rules in the formula for precision, except for the first tier.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands and refines population tiers from 500 to 50,000 residents (previously coarser tiers starting at 5,000).
- Increases multipliers for the smallest populations (e.g., $514.50 per person at 500 vs. prior flat rates), providing higher payments relative to population.
- Shifts the cutoff for full payment eligibility downward, benefiting counties under 500 residents with uncapped payments.
Potential Impacts
- Local governments: Very small, rural counties (especially those with federal lands) receive higher PILT payments, boosting budgets for services like roads, schools, and emergency response.
- Federal government: U.S. Department of the Interior (which administers PILT) faces modestly higher annual payouts, drawn from federal funds.
- Citizens: Residents of small counties gain indirectly through improved local services; no direct impact on urban areas or individuals.
- No notable effects on international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Primary: Low-population counties and other local governments (under 50,000 residents) with significant federal lands.
- Secondary: Members of Congress from rural districts (e.g., sponsors from Colorado); federal agencies like the Department of the Interior.
- Others: State governments and rural advocacy groups benefiting from stronger local finances.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Straightforward amendment to an existing statute; no new mandates or enforcement mechanisms.
- Constitutional: None apparent; aligns with Congress's spending power and property clause authority over federal lands.
- Political: Supports rural interests by addressing funding disparities for "small counties," potentially aiding bipartisan appeal in resource-dependent regions; referred to House Natural Resources Committee for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-14: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Small County PILT Parity Act — issued 2026-04-14 — PDF (3 pages)