Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Neighborhood Tree Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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 seeks to amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. This bill creates the Neighborhood Tree Fund to provide financial assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and local entities for planting and maintaining trees. The goal is to improve the health and resilience of the urban tree canopy. It specifically prioritizes communities facing high poverty rates and those affected by historical redlining. Additionally, the bill adjusts the composition of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to include experts with specific community ties.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +7
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill focuses on improving the environmental health, air quality, and temperature regulation of urban areas.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes assistance for communities with high poverty rates and lower tree canopy.
- Scored +6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill prioritizes funding for communities facing historical redlining and racial disparities in tree canopy cover.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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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 manage stormwater (Section 2).
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Economic Opportunities: The maintenance and management of urban forests can provide opportunities for job creation, workforce development, and the enhancement of property values (Section 2).
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Addressing Inequities: The bill provides assistance to priority communities, such as those with poverty rates of at least 20 percent or areas that were historically redlined, to reduce disparities in tree canopy cover (Section 3, paragraph 5).
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Food and Climate Resilience: Assistance can be used to advance community-led urban agroforestry or tree-based local food production to improve environmental and public health outcomes (Section 3, paragraph 5).
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Community Representation: The bill adds three members to the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council who have expertise in urban forestry, including a resident of a community with a population of less than 50,000 and a resident of a low-income community (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding Limitations on Assessments: There is a limit where no more than 10 percent of the funds available for a fiscal year can be used 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 people in cities be better off under this? — The bill focuses on improving the environmental health, air quality, and temperature regulation of urban areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes assistance for communities with high poverty rates and lower tree canopy. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses disparities in tree canopy cover that disproportionately affect people of color. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill targets racial and ethnic inequities in urban green space distribution. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides benefits through energy demand reduction and property value enhancement.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes funding for communities facing historical redlining and racial disparities in tree canopy cover. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill directs resources toward census tracts with high poverty rates to improve environmental and public health outcomes.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds the improvement of urban tree canopy health and air quality regulation. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill aims to use tree planting for climate mitigation and resilience.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill's findings state that urban forest management offers opportunities for job creation. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill identifies that urban forests can enhance property values and provide economic benefits.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill notes that healthy urban forests can support the mental health of community residents.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill expands the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council to include more community-based perspectives.
- 4/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts