Assembly Bill 181 modifies the eligibility criteria for county forest administration grants provided by the Department of Natural Resources. The bill allows counties with designated county forest lands to receive grants that cover 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a county forest administrator. The definition of a county forest administrator is established in the bill, specifying that the individual must not be employed by the Department of Natural Resources and must possess certain qualifications, including a bachelor's degree in forestry or related fields, or an associate degree in forestry combined with relevant experience.

The bill renumbers and amends existing legal language, specifically changing the reference from "professional forester in the position of" to "county forest administrator," and clarifies that the grants can be used for the salary and fringe benefits of the county forest administrator. The changes are retroactive to January 1, 2025, and the bill aims to enhance the management of county forest programs by ensuring that qualified individuals are in administrative roles.