Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026

Last action · April 27, 2026: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.Sponsors: Cory Booker and 4 others

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What This Bill Would Do

This bill proposes the creation of a federal 'Neighborhood Tree Fund' to provide grants to states, tribes, and local organizations for planting and maintaining urban trees. It prioritizes funding for low-income areas and neighborhoods with historically low tree canopy cover to help mitigate urban heat and improve public health.

Why it matters

The bill authorizes $2 billion in federal funding over five years (2027–2031) to support urban forestry projects, specifically targeting neighborhoods with high poverty rates or extreme heat exposure.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Local community tree volunteer groups

These groups become eligible to apply for federal assistance to fund tree planting and maintenance projects.

Directly affected

Residents of low-income neighborhoods

These residents are the primary target for tree-planting initiatives intended to mitigate urban heat and improve local air quality.

Key Facts

Authorizes $100M for 2027, $200M for 2028, $400M for 2029, $600M for 2030, and $700M for 2031 for the Neighborhood Tree Fund.
Limits spending on community tree assessments to 10% of the annual appropriation.
Prioritizes funding for census tracts with poverty rates of 20% or higher.
Prioritizes funding for areas previously designated as 'hazardous' or 'definitely declining' in historical redlining maps.

Show all 10 facts

Prioritizes funding for neighborhoods with low tree canopy and high summer temperatures.
Prioritizes projects involving community-led urban agroforestry or local food production.
Requires grant recipients to conduct tree canopy assessments and use climate science in project design.
Expands the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council from 15 to 16 members.
Mandates that two new council members must be residents of low-income communities or small towns (under 50,000 population).
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consult with the Secretary of HUD on grant requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for these tree-planting grants?

Eligible entities include states, Indian Tribes, local units of government, approved organizations, and local community tree volunteer groups.

How does the bill define priority areas for funding?

Priority is given to areas with poverty rates of 20% or higher, areas with historically low tree canopy, areas with high summer temperatures, and areas historically affected by .

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Apr 27, 2026SenateCommittee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Apr 27, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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