S. 4403 — Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings on the benefits of healthy urban forests, including support for physical and mental health, air quality regulation, urban heat island mitigation, energy demand reduction, and stormwater management, with an estimated annual value exceeding $18 billion; inequities in urban tree canopy cover, such as 33% less on average in neighborhoods with mostly people of color than majority-white neighborhoods and 41% less in low-income neighborhoods; lingering effects of historical policies like redlining (e.g., elevated land temperatures of 2.6 degrees Celsius on average, up to 7 degrees Celsius); and the need for accelerated federal action to enhance urban forest health and resilience, with investment in priority communities.

This section establishes the Neighborhood Tree Fund under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (which authorizes grants to states, localities, and others to steward urban and community forests). The Secretary of Agriculture shall use Fund amounts to assist eligible entities—States, Indian Tribes, local governments, approved organizations, and community tree volunteer groups described in subsection (b)(4)—in increasing and improving community tree canopy health, subject to requirements (developed with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) for community engagement, tree canopy assessments, climate science use, site preparation and species selection, and monitoring. Priority is given to projects targeting high-poverty census tracts (poverty rate of 20% or more per 2014-2018 American Community Survey data, including Home Owners’ Loan Corporation “hazardous” or “definitely declining” areas), neighborhoods with lower tree canopy and higher summer temperatures, climate-resilient public health outcomes, or community-led urban agroforestry and tree-based food production. Not more than 10% of annual funds may support tree assessments. The section authorizes appropriations for deposit into the Fund of at least $100 million for FY2027, $200 million for FY2028, $400 million for FY2029, $600 million for FY2030, and $700 million for FY2031.

This section revises the composition of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council by (1) increasing total membership to 16 (from 15); and (2) requiring three members who are not governmental officers or employees and who have expertise in urban and community forestry, including one resident of a community with a population of less than 50,000 and one resident of a low-income community as determined by the Secretary.