Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026

Bill Number

S. 4403

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Last Updated

2026-05-06T04:23:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026 (S. 4403) amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to create new federal funding for states, tribes, and communities to plant and maintain trees, particularly in urban areas. It aims to improve tree canopy cover (the layer of leaves, branches, and stems formed by trees), boost environmental and health benefits, and address inequities in tree access, such as in low-income or historically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Key Provisions

• Findings: Congress highlights benefits of healthy urban forests, including better air quality, reduced urban heat (elevated temperatures in cities due to buildings and pavement), lower energy use, stormwater control, health improvements, job creation, and property value increases. It notes inequities, like 33% less tree cover in neighborhoods with mostly people of color and 41% less in low-income areas, linked to past policies like redlining (historical practice of denying loans to certain neighborhoods based on race).
• Neighborhood Tree Fund (new subsection in the Act):
• Establishes a fund managed by the Secretary of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service) to provide grants for tree planting and maintenance.
• Eligible recipients: States, Indian Tribes, local governments, approved organizations, or community tree volunteer groups.
• Requirements: Community engagement, tree canopy assessments (surveys of existing tree cover), use of climate science, proper site preparation and species selection, and ongoing monitoring/maintenance.
• Priorities: Projects in high-poverty census tracts (≥20% poverty), redlined areas, hotter neighborhoods, those enhancing climate resilience/public health, or community-led urban agroforestry (tree-based food production like fruit/nut trees).
• Funding cap: ≤10% for canopy assessments.
• Authorizations: $100M (FY2027), $200M (FY2028), $400M (FY2029), $600M (FY2030), $700M (FY2031).
• National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council:
• Increases membership from 15 to 16.
• Adds specific expertise requirement: 3 non-government members active in urban forestry, including one from a small community (<50,000 people) and one from a low-income community.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Inserts new "Neighborhood Tree Fund" subsection (h) into Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C. 2105), shifting existing subsections (h)-(i) to (i)-(j).
• Modifies Advisory Council composition in Section 9(g)(2)(A) to expand and diversify membership with urban forestry experts from underserved areas.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: U.S. Forest Service gains new responsibilities and funding (up to $700M/year) for grant administration, in consultation with HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development). Increases federal investment in urban forestry.
• Citizens: Improves tree cover in underserved urban areas, potentially reducing heat exposure, health risks, energy costs, and environmental disparities; creates jobs in tree care.
• International relations: None apparent.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Recipients: States, Indian Tribes, local governments, nonprofits, and volunteer groups.
• Communities: Low-income, high-poverty, minority-heavy, redlined, or heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.
• Advisory Council: Gains new members from small/low-income communities.
• Federal agencies: U.S. Forest Service (lead), HUD (consultation).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Promotes environmental justice by prioritizing disadvantaged areas, aligning with federal goals to reduce inequities without mandating quotas.
• Authorizes significant new spending, subject to annual appropriations (Congress must approve funds yearly).
• No clear constitutional challenges; builds on existing cooperative forestry law with advisory input for balanced implementation.
• Politically, emphasizes equity and climate resilience, potentially influencing urban policy and community development.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

Cosponsors (4)

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
• 2026-04-27: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (8 pages)