119-hr1500

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1500 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1500

 To require the priority and consideration of using native plants in 
 Federal projects, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 21, 2025

 Ms. Sherrill (for herself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
 Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To require the priority and consideration of using native plants in 
 Federal projects, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Building Native Habitats at Federal 
Facilities Act''.

SEC. 2. PRIORITY AND CONSIDERATION OF THE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS IN 
 FEDERAL PROJECTS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' has the 
 meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' in 

section 105 of 
 title 5, United States Code.

    (2) Federal project.--The term ``Federal project'' means a 
 construction or maintenance activity that--
        (A) is carried out--
            (i) by a Federal agency; and
            (ii) at a Federal facility (as defined in 
 

section 930

    (g) of title 18, United States 
 Code);
        (B) involves landscape planting improvements; and
            (C) is located in a State of the United States, the 
 District of Columbia, or a commonwealth, territory, or 
 possession of the United States.

    (3) Native plant.--The term ``native plant'' has the 
 meaning given the term ``native plant species'' in 

section 101

    (a) of title I of division DD of the Consolidated 
 Appropriations Act, 2023 (43 U.S.C. 1732 note; Public Law 117-
 328).

    (b) Federal Project Requirements.--

    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

    (2) , not 
 later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
 any Federal agency that carries out a Federal project shall--
        (A) prioritize, as feasible with respect to cost, 
 schedule, and product supply or a scientific, 
 historical, or educational purpose, the use of native 
 plants over non-native plants; and
        (B) consider the benefits, such as habitat 
 creation, supporting native pollinators, providing food 
 and shelter to insect and wildlife populations, 
 decreasing soil erosion and landscape water usage, 
 increasing sediment control, and controlling stormwater 
 runoff, of using native plants over the life of the 
 Federal project when deciding whether to use native 
 plants.

    (2) Turfgrass and lawns.--A Federal agency--
        (A) is not required to prioritize and consider 
 turfgrass and lawn plantings as required by paragraph

    (1) ; but
        (B) is encouraged to consider, with respect to 
 cost, schedule, product supply, overall maintenance 
 requirements, and property usage, the planting of 
 native plants on appropriate areas of existing or 
 planned turfgrass and lawns, particularly unused areas, 
 while carrying out a Federal project.
            (c) Contractor Requirements.--In entering into a Federal contract, 
the head of a Federal agency shall--

    (1) include the priority and consideration requirements 
 described in subsection

    (b) in the contract, to the maximum 
 extent practicable; and

    (2) require that any subcontract (at any tier) of that 
 contract include those priority and consideration requirements.
            (d) Update to Agency-Specific Design Standards.--Not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, a Federal agency that 
maintains agency-specific facility design standards or that has 
landscape and maintenance development requirements or standards shall 
update those requirements and standards in accordance with subsections

    (b) and
            (c) .

    (e) CEQ Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chair of the 
Council on Environmental Quality shall distribute to Federal agencies 
guidance on--

    (1) the use of native plants in Federal projects; and

    (2) implementing the requirements of this section.

    (f) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Chair of the Council on 
Environmental Quality shall make publicly available on the website of 
the Council on Environmental Quality a report on the use of native 
plants in Federal projects for at least the previous 2 years that 
includes, at a minimum, the following:

    (1) Case studies on best practices used in various Federal 
 projects.

    (2) A general analysis of scientific or environmental 
 findings relating to selected Federal projects, the types of 
 plants used, and any quantifiable impacts of native plant usage 
 in the Federal projects.

    (3) A description of how the Federal Government is 
 promoting native habitats and native plant usage.
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