SHADE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4212

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Last Updated

2025-08-01T14:21:46Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The SHADE Act (Saving Hazardous And Declining Environments Act) aims to address environmental inequities by funding tree-planting projects in historically disadvantaged urban areas. It seeks to increase tree canopy coverage to reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and mitigate the lingering effects of past discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture (through the U.S. Forest Service), must create a grant program within 180 days of receiving appropriated funds. A notice of funding availability must be published within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
• Eligible Recipients and Areas:
• Eligible entities include state or territorial agencies, local governments (e.g., cities or counties handling land use), Indian Tribes, and nonprofits partnering with these groups.
• Eligible areas are "redlined areas" (low-income census tracts historically marked as high-risk for mortgages by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation in the 1930s) or "intra-urban heat island effect areas" (city zones with low tree cover and higher summer heat compared to nearby areas, as determined by HUD with input from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies).
• Application Requirements:
• Applications must include a 5-year plan and budget for planting and maintenance.
• Entities must create a public participation plan involving local residents, nonprofits, public input sessions, and evidence of community support.
• Grant Selection and Use:
• Priority goes to entities with policies to prevent displacing current residents (e.g., through affordable housing protections).
• Funds can cover planning, tree purchases, site preparation and planting (including labor and equipment), 5-year maintenance and monitoring, training, and other related costs.
• Funding: Authorizes $50 million annually from fiscal year 2026 through 2036.
• Qualifying Trees: Must be non-invasive species native or suitable to the area; if vulnerable to invasive pests, the project must include a risk mitigation plan.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new federal grant program under HUD, with no direct amendments to prior laws. It builds on existing environmental and housing frameworks (e.g., referencing the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act for Tribal definitions and tax code provisions for nonprofits) but creates a dedicated funding mechanism for urban tree planting targeted at equity-focused areas, which did not previously exist at this scale.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HUD gains responsibility for program administration, coordination with the Forest Service and NOAA, and application reviews, potentially increasing workload and inter-agency collaboration. Local and tribal governments may access new federal funds for environmental projects.
• Citizens: Residents in redlined or heat-vulnerable urban areas could benefit from cooler temperatures, better air quality, reduced energy costs for cooling, and enhanced community green spaces. The emphasis on anti-displacement policies aims to protect low-income and minority communities from gentrification risks.
• International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic urban environmental improvements.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Government Entities: HUD, U.S. Forest Service, NOAA, state/local governments, and Indian Tribes responsible for implementation and applications.
• Communities and Nonprofits: Residents of eligible urban areas (especially historically redlined, low-income neighborhoods), local nonprofits involved in planning and participation, and community groups providing input.
• Environmental and Housing Advocates: Organizations focused on climate resilience, urban forestry, and racial equity in housing, who may partner on projects.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The program promotes environmental justice by targeting areas affected by historical redlining (a form of past racial discrimination in lending), potentially supporting broader civil rights goals without creating new enforcement mechanisms. Definitions rely on existing federal data (e.g., census tracts), ensuring administrative feasibility.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, for public welfare programs. Tribal provisions respect sovereignty via established federal-Indian law definitions. No apparent First Amendment or property rights issues, as projects emphasize community involvement to avoid unilateral land use changes.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan potential in environmental policy by addressing urban climate challenges and historical inequities, though introduced by a diverse group of House members primarily from the Democratic caucus. Could influence future housing and climate legislation by linking green infrastructure to anti-displacement safeguards.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

Cosponsors (43)

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Saving Hazardous And Declining Environments Act — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (6 pages)