Save Our Sequoias Act
Sponsored By: Senator Alex Padilla
Introduced
Summary
Protect and restore giant sequoia groves. This bill would set up a multi‑agency and Tribal coalition, rapid health assessments, and a reforestation strategy to speed recovery of sequoia groves across Federal and public lands.
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- Requires a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment due within 6 months and annual updates. It creates a priority list and a 10‑year timeline to address the reforestation backlog and target groves with stand‑replacing damage.
- Authorizes emergency Protection Projects for covered lands for up to 7 years and requires hazardous fuels be reduced in at least 3 groves each year.
- Codifies a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition to coordinate Federal, state, and Tribal actions, requires a public dashboard with grove‑level data and permitting timetables, and authorizes NEPA categorical exclusions for limited acreages alongside cross‑boundary contracting tools.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants and a private sequoia fund
This bill would require the Secretary to set up or expand a grant program for nonprofits, Tribes, local governments, schools, and private groups to help giant sequoia recovery. Grants would prioritize groups with the biggest impact and then small businesses and Tribal entities in rural areas. Funds could pay for fuel markets, transport, storage/processing, nursery capacity, and Tribal conservation staff. The bill would also direct three foundations to run a Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund for gifts and bequests, make funds available without further appropriation, and require that at least 15% support Tribal management. That private fund authority would end seven years after enactment.
More stewardship contracting in parks
This bill would change stewardship contracting rules so the National Park Service Director is included for work in Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. It would add ‘‘promoting giant sequoia health and resiliency’’ as an authorized purpose for stewardship contracts. Projects in those parks would have to follow National Park Service laws and regulations.
Emergency protection and NEPA relief
This bill would let the relevant Secretary declare an emergency for giant sequoia lands and carry out Protection Projects while the emergency is in effect. Projects limited to 2,000 acres inside sequoia groves or 3,000 acres on nearby identified lands would be categorically excluded from full NEPA review, subject to extraordinary‑circumstances rules. The bill would create Giant Sequoia Strike Teams (up to 10 members each) to help with site work and reviews. The emergency authority would expire 7 years after enactment, and the Secretary would be required to try to reduce hazardous fuels in at least three groves each year while the emergency is in effect.
Shared stewardship, assessment, and data
This bill would codify a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition and require a Health and Resiliency Assessment within 6 months, with annual updates starting one year after submission. The Assessment and updates would identify high‑risk groves, lands suitable for fuel breaks, groves needing reforestation, and track project status and costs. The Coalition would keep a public, searchable dashboard with grove‑level data and permitting timetables and hold at least one public meeting a year. The bill would require the Secretary to enter or expand a shared stewardship agreement with Agriculture, California, and the Tule River Tribe within 90 days of a request or, if no request, start it within 90 days after enactment. The bill would also require an insect monitoring strategy within one year and a report to Congress within two years. The law would define covered lands, reforestation, rehabilitation (a five‑year window), the responsible Secretaries, and name the Tule River Tribe.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Cosponsors
John Curtis
UT • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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