The Small County PILT Parity Act (S. 1175) aims to adjust the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which compensates local governments for tax-exempt federal lands within their jurisdictions. The bill proposes lowering the population threshold for the highest payment tier from 4,999 to 999 residents, thereby increasing payments to smaller counties. It also introduces a new tiered payment structure for counties with populations starting at 1,000, with specific payment amounts decreasing as population increases up to 50,000 residents.
Supporters of the Small County PILT Parity Act argue that it provides much-needed financial relief to small counties that have limited tax bases due to the presence of federal lands. By lowering the population threshold and adjusting the payment structure, the bill is seen as a step toward equitable compensation for these counties, enabling them to better fund essential services and infrastructure projects.
Critics of the Small County PILT Parity Act express concerns about the potential increase in federal expenditures resulting from higher payments to smaller counties. They argue that while supporting small counties is important, the bill may lead to budgetary constraints or require reallocation of funds from other programs. Additionally, some believe that the tiered payment structure could create disparities among counties with similar needs but differing populations.
The Small County PILT Parity Act, sponsored by Steve Daines, does not show any direct industry overlaps with the sponsor's top donor industries, which are primarily Health Professionals and Retired individuals. The total contributions from these sectors amount to $2,677,500,000, but they do not relate to the bill's focus on Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for small counties. Additionally, the lobbying activity in this policy area does not indicate any significant financial influence from the sponsor's donors. The lobbying amounts are relatively modest, with the highest being $50,000 from TRUST AUTOMATION, INC. and $40,000 from REACH POWER, both of which do not directly connect to the main donor industries of the sponsor. Therefore, the risk of conflict of interest appears low, as there are no substantial financial ties between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor's financial backers.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TRUST AUTOMATION, INC. | C2 STRATEGIES | $50,000 |
| REACH POWER | C2 STRATEGIES | $40,000 |
| MAGNERA | C2 STRATEGIES | $40,000 |
| TACTICAL LIGHTING SYSTEMS | C2 STRATEGIES | $40,000 |
| DARKHIVE | C2 STRATEGIES | $40,000 |
| DELTA BLACK AEROSPACE | C2 STRATEGIES | $30,000 |
| SEASPAN - VANCOUVER SHIPYARDS | C2 STRATEGIES | $30,000 |
| RMCI, INC. | TIDAL STRATEGIES, LLC | $30,000 |
| ST PAPER COMPANY, LLC | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | $10,000 |
| REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES (REDA) | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES (REDA) | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| WORLDS ENTERPRISES INC | C2 STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| PLANATOMES (FORMERLY ENTREPIX MEDICAL, LLC) | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| PALINDROMES INC. | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
| NORTHSTAR RADIOISOTOPES, LLC | BROYDRICK & ASSOCIATES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Steve Daines, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
