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119-s-4103119th CongressWALLET

Save Our Sequoias Act

Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would create a coordinated federal, state, Tribal, and local framework focused on _protecting and restoring giant sequoias_ by pairing emergency treatment authorities with data-driven planning and public transparency. It would speed collaborative action, fund reforestation and markets for removed fuels, and set limits and targets for hazardous-fuels work.

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  • Tribes and Tribal managers: The Tule River Tribe and other Tribal partners would have formal roles in a Shared Stewardship Agreement and in a codified Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, and at least 15% of a seven-year Emergency Protection Fund would support Tribal sequoia management.
  • Land managers and agencies: A Coalition would produce a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment with annual updates and a public dashboard. The Secretary would have to enter or expand a Shared Stewardship Agreement within 90 days of a Governor or Tribe request and could use emergency Protection Projects that are categorically excluded from NEPA, subject to acreage caps of 2,000 acres in groves and 3,000 acres on identified lands.
  • Rural economies, nurseries, and contractors: Grant authority would fund nursery capacity, markets for biomass and biochar, transport and storage of removed fuels, and projects that prioritize rural jobs and small businesses.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster emergency sequoia projects

If enacted, this bill would declare a seven-year emergency for covered public and National Forest lands and let the Secretary carry out Protection Projects to reduce hazardous fuels and remove dead or crowded trees. Projects that meet size limits would be excluded from NEPA review if they are no more than 2,000 acres inside sequoia groves or 3,000 acres on identified lands. Projects on non-federal land would need the landowner's consent. The Secretary would be directed to use these authorities to reduce fuels in at least three sequoia groves each year and must post notice of each project on a public website.

Grants, emergency fund, and contracts

If enacted, the bill would create a Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund made of gifts and donations and run by three foundations, with funds available without further appropriation for approved projects and a 15% set-aside for Tribal management. The bill would also require a grant program for nonprofits, Tribal governments, local governments, academic institutions, and private organizations to build nursery capacity, expand markets for removed fuels, reduce transport costs, and support Tribal conservation. The bill would expand stewardship contracting authority into Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks and add promoting sequoia health as a contracting purpose. Foundations must report deposits and year-end balances starting one year after enactment and the Fund authority would end seven years after enactment.

New sequoia coalition and plans

If enacted, the bill would codify a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition to publish a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment within 6 months and update it annually. The Coalition would share science and maps, advise on Protection Projects and reforestation, hold at least one public meeting each year, and keep a public website and searchable database with grove-level project, permitting, and cost information. The Secretary of the Interior would provide staff support. The bill would also require an insect-monitoring strategy within 1 year and a report to Congress within 2 years. The Secretary must enter or expand a shared stewardship agreement with the Agriculture Secretary, California's Governor, and the Tule River Tribe within 90 days of a request or with the Agriculture Secretary if no timely request is received.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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