Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 23, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to enhance urban tree canopy cover, particularly in disadvantaged communities, by providing significant federal funding and diversifying advisory council representation to address environmental justice and climate resilience.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish a new Neighborhood Tree Fund, authorizing $2 billion over five fiscal years (FY2025-FY2029) for states, Indian Tribes, and local entities to plant and maintain trees. It explicitly prioritizes projects in historically underserved and climate-vulnerable communities, including those affected by historical redlining. Additionally, the bill modifies the composition of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to ensure representation from smaller and low-income communities.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue the bill is a crucial step towards environmental justice, directly addressing historical inequities by targeting federal resources to communities disproportionately affected by climate change impacts like urban heat islands and lacking green infrastructure due to past discriminatory policies. They emphasize the broad benefits of healthy urban forests for public health, air quality, stormwater management, and economic development, while also promoting community engagement and climate resilience.
Opponents contend
Potential opponents might argue that this represents an overreach of federal authority into local land use decisions or that the authorized funding could be better allocated to other infrastructure priorities. Some might also raise concerns about the administrative burden of the new fund or the potential for misallocation of resources, though no specific opposition is explicitly stated in the bill text.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick but thorough review.
Section 3, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(h)(1)-(2)
Establishment of the Neighborhood Tree Fund
This provision directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a new "Neighborhood Tree Fund" to provide financial assistance to eligible entities. The primary goal of this fund is to help communities increase and improve the overall health of their tree canopy, contributing to environmental and public health benefits across urban and community areas.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this fund is essential to provide dedicated resources for urban forestry, which has historically been underfunded, allowing communities to proactively address environmental challenges and enhance local quality of life.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the establishment of a fund for urban forestry, though concerns might arise regarding the scale of funding or administrative overhead.
Tradeoffs
Balances the need for federal support with local autonomy in project design and implementation.
Section 3, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(h)(3)-(4)
Defining Eligible Entities and Project Requirements
This section specifies which entities can receive funding, including states, Indian Tribes, and various local government and community groups. It also mandates that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), establish specific requirements for projects, such as community engagement, tree canopy assessments, use of climate science, and long-term monitoring to ensure successful tree establishment.
Section 3, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(h)(5)
Prioritizing Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience
This crucial provision directs the Secretary to prioritize projects that focus on tree planting and maintenance in specific "priority communities." These include census tracts with high poverty rates (20% or more), areas historically affected by redlining, and neighborhoods with lower tree canopy and higher summer temperatures. Priority is also given to projects optimizing climate mitigation and resilience for public health, and those advancing urban agroforestry or tree-based local food production.
Section 3, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(h)(7)
Funding Authorization for the Neighborhood Tree Fund
This section authorizes specific appropriation levels for the Neighborhood Tree Fund over five fiscal years, starting with $100 million in FY2025 and escalating to $700 million by FY2029, totaling $2 billion. This authorization provides the financial framework for the fund's activities, though actual appropriations would depend on future congressional action.
Section 4, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(g)(2)(A)
Diversifying the Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
This provision increases the size of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council from 15 to 16 members. Crucially, it modifies the requirements for three non-governmental members with urban forestry expertise, mandating that one be a resident of a community with a population under 50,000 and another be a resident of a low-income community, as determined by the Secretary.
Prioritizes funding for projects in census tracts with a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent, specifically referencing the 2014-2018 American Community Survey data, and explicitly includes areas designated as "hazardous" or "definitely declining" in historical Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps (redlining).
Section 3, amending 16 U.S.C. 2105(h)(5)(A)(i)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for precision in targeting, ensuring the policy directly addresses the historical inequities identified in the findings section. It is not evasive but requires specific contextual knowledge.
Case for: Proponents argue this precise targeting ensures that federal funds directly address the legacy of systemic racism and economic discrimination, directing resources to the communities most impacted by historical underinvestment and environmental injustice.
Case against: Some might argue that such specific historical references could be seen as overly prescriptive or potentially lead to administrative complexities in verifying eligibility, though the intent is clear.
Estimated impact: Directs a significant portion of the $2 billion authorized funding towards communities with documented historical disadvantage and current environmental vulnerability.