Bill Details
HR.1500 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-21 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced Date
2025-02-21
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Committees
View committees (1)
Cosponsors
6
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require federal agencies to give priority to native plants when they do landscaping work at federal facilities, as long as doing so is reasonable for cost, timing, plant supply, or a scientific, historical, or educational reason. The goal is to make federal projects use plants that naturally belong in the area, which can help create habitat, support pollinators and wildlife, reduce erosion, save water, and improve stormwater control. It also asks agencies to update their design rules, include these requirements in contracts, and share guidance and reports on how native plants are being used.
- Federal agencies would have to prefer native plants over non-native ones in covered landscaping projects within 270 days after the bill becomes law.
- Agencies must consider the long-term benefits of native plants, such as better habitat for insects and wildlife, less soil erosion, lower water use, and improved runoff control.
- The bill does not require agencies to prioritize native plants for turfgrass and lawns, but it encourages them to use native plants in suitable parts of lawns, especially unused areas.
- Federal contracts and subcontracts would need to include these native plant requirements, and agencies with their own design standards would have to update them to match the new rules.
- The Council on Environmental Quality would issue guidance within 180 days and publish a public report every two years on native plant use in federal projects and related best practices.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1500 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1500
To require the priority and consideration of using native plants in
Federal projects, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2025
Ms. Sherrill (for herself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the priority and consideration of using native plants in
Federal projects, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Building Native Habitats at Federal
Facilities Act''.
SEC. 2. PRIORITY AND CONSIDERATION OF THE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS IN
FEDERAL PROJECTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the
meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in section 105 of
title 5, United States Code.
(2) Federal project.--The term ``Federal project'' means a
construction or maintenance activity that--
(A) is carried out--
(i) by a Federal agency; and
(ii) at a Federal facility (as defined in
section 930(g) of title 18, United States
Code);
(B) involves landscape planting improvements; and
(C) is located in a State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or
possession of the United States.
(3) Native plant.--The term ``native plant'' has the
meaning given the term ``native plant species'' in section
101(a) of title I of division DD of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (43 U.S.C. 1732 note; Public Law 117-
328).
(b) Federal Project Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not
later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
any Federal agency that carries out a Federal project shall--
(A) prioritize, as feasible with respect to cost,
schedule, and product supply or a scientific,
historical, or educational purpose, the use of native
plants over non-native plants; and
(B) consider the benefits, such as habitat
creation, supporting native pollinators, providing food
and shelter to insect and wildlife populations,
decreasing soil erosion and landscape water usage,
increasing sediment control, and controlling stormwater
runoff, of using native plants over the life of the
Federal project when deciding whether to use native
plants.
(2) Turfgrass and lawns.--A Federal agency--
(A) is not required to prioritize and consider
turfgrass and lawn plantings as required by paragraph
(1); but
(B) is encouraged to consider, with respect to
cost, schedule, product supply, overall maintenance
requirements, and property usage, the planting of
native plants on appropriate areas of existing or
planned turfgrass and lawns, particularly unused areas,
while carrying out a Federal project.
(c) Contractor Requirements.--In entering into a Federal contract,
the head of a Federal agency shall--
(1) include the priority and consideration requirements
described in subsection (b) in the contract, to the maximum
extent practicable; and
(2) require that any subcontract (at any tier) of that
contract include those priority and consideration requirements.
(d) Update to Agency-Specific Design Standards.--Not later than 270
days after the date of enactment of this Act, a Federal agency that
maintains agency-specific facility design standards or that has
landscape and maintenance development requirements or standards shall
update those requirements and standards in accordance with subsections
(b) and (c).
(e) CEQ Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chair of the
Council on Environmental Quality shall distribute to Federal agencies
guidance on--
(1) the use of native plants in Federal projects; and
(2) implementing the requirements of this section.
(f) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chair of the Council on
Environmental Quality shall make publicly available on the website of
the Council on Environmental Quality a report on the use of native
plants in Federal projects for at least the previous 2 years that
includes, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Case studies on best practices used in various Federal
projects.
(2) A general analysis of scientific or environmental
findings relating to selected Federal projects, the types of
plants used, and any quantifiable impacts of native plant usage
in the Federal projects.
(3) A description of how the Federal Government is
promoting native habitats and native plant usage.
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