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, excluding individuals employed by the Department of Natural Resources, and includes those with specific educational qualifications and experience in managing a county forest program.

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. Additionally, it creates a new section defining the qualifications for a county forest administrator, which includes various educational backgrounds and experience requirements. The changes are retroactive to January 1, 2025, and will apply to grant applications submitted on or after the effective date.