Shontel Brown (D-OH)
Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026 proposes to amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. It aims to establish a Neighborhood Tree Fund to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and local entities for planting and maintaining trees. The bill focuses on increasing tree canopy cover to improve public health, mitigate heat, and manage stormwater. Priority will be given to high-poverty areas and communities that have been historically impacted by discriminatory policies. The act also updates the composition of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes assistance to high-poverty and low-income communities.
- Scored +7
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill focuses on enhancing the urban forest canopy and mitigating urban heat island effects.
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill specifically targets racial disparities in tree canopy distribution caused by historical redlining.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Health and Environmental Benefits: A healthy urban forest can support the physical and mental health of residents, regulate air quality, mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy demand, and assist in stormwater management (Section 2, paragraph 1).
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Economic and Workforce Growth: Maintaining an urban forest provides opportunities for workforce development, job creation, and the enhancement of property values (Section 2, paragraph 3).
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Addressing Inequities: The bill targets assistance toward census tracts with poverty rates of at least 20 percent or areas previously designated as 'hazardous' or 'definitely declining' by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation to reduce disparities in tree canopy cover (Section 3, paragraph 5, subparagraph A-i).
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Climate and Food Security: Priority is given to projects that optimize climate mitigation/resilience and advance community-led urban agroforestry or tree-based local food production (Section 3, paragraph 5, subparagraphs B and C).
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Community Representation: The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council will include three members with expertise in urban forestry, including one resident of a community with a population of less than 50,000 and one resident of a low-income community (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Use of Funds Restrictions: There is a limitation that no more than 10 percent of the funds made available for a fiscal year can be used specifically for the development of community tree assessments (Section 3, paragraph 6).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes assistance to high-poverty and low-income communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill focuses on enhancing the urban forest canopy and mitigating urban heat island effects. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses inequities in tree canopy cover that affect communities of color. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses inequities in tree canopy cover that affect communities of color. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill makes Indian Tribes eligible for assistance from the Neighborhood Tree Fund.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill specifically targets racial disparities in tree canopy distribution caused by historical redlining. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes assistance to communities with high poverty rates to improve their environments.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill focuses on improving urban tree canopy health and environmental quality. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill supports tree planting to optimize outcomes for climate mitigation and resilience.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill notes that urban forest management offers opportunities for job creation. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to enhance property values through tree canopy management.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a new federal fund and mandates Secretary requirements for assistance.
- 9/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/23/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
Seth MoultonDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Mike ThompsonDemocrat · California
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida