PRIA Logo™
HR1500119th Congress

Building Native Habitats at Federal Facilities Act

Sponsored By: Representative Sherrill

Introduced

Summary

This bill would make native plants the first choice for landscaping on Federal projects. It would set specific deadlines, require contract language, and create recurring guidance and public reporting to push agencies toward native habitats.

Show full summary
  • Federal agencies would need to prioritize native plants for covered Federal projects and update any agency-specific design or landscape standards within 270 days, weighing life-cycle benefits like pollinator support, erosion control, and reduced water use.
  • Agency contracting officers would be required to add the native-plant priority and consideration rules into Federal contracts and to flow those requirements into subcontracts at all tiers to the maximum extent practicable.
  • The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality would have to issue guidance within 180 days and then every 2 years, and publicly post biennial reports with case studies, scientific analyses, and descriptions of how the Government is promoting native habitats.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Federal projects would prioritize native plants

Within 270 days of enactment, federal agencies doing landscaping at federal facilities in the U.S. would prioritize native plants when feasible on cost, schedule, and supply, factoring in scientific, historical, or educational needs. Agencies would also weigh long-term benefits like habitat for wildlife and pollinators, less erosion, lower water use, better sediment control, and stormwater control. Turfgrass and lawns would be exempt, but agencies would be encouraged to add natives in unused lawn areas, considering cost, schedule, supply, maintenance, and property use. Agencies would need to put these rules into contracts and subcontracts to the maximum extent practicable and update any design and maintenance standards within 270 days. The term “native plant” would follow an existing federal definition.

Guidance and reports on native plants

The Council on Environmental Quality would issue guidance to federal agencies on using native plants within 180 days and then every two years. Starting two years after enactment, it would post public reports every two years on native plant use in federal projects. Reports would include case studies, scientific findings by project and plant type, any measurable impacts, and how the government is promoting native habitats.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sherrill

NJ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/21/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/3/2025

  • Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation