H.R. 1500: Building Native Habitats at Federal Facilities Act

This bill, titled the Building Native Habitats at Federal Facilities Act, aims to require the use of native plants in federal projects. It focuses on promoting native plants over non-native varieties for landscaping in federal facilities and projects. Here are the key elements of the bill:

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms, including:

• Federal agency: Refers to agencies of the U.S. government that carry out federal projects.
• Federal project: Any construction or maintenance project conducted by a federal agency at a federal facility that involves landscape planting improvements.
• Native plant: Defined as plants that are native to a specific region, as specified in existing laws.

Federal Project Requirements

Federal agencies are required to:

• Prioritize the use of native plants in federal projects, given factors like cost, schedule, and product availability.
• Consider the benefits of native plants, which include habitat creation, support for pollinators, and reduced soil erosion, when planning projects.

However, the bill states that while native plants should be prioritized, federal agencies are not required to apply this to turfgrass and lawn areas but are encouraged to consider native plantings in unused areas.

Contractor Requirements

When federal agencies contract out for projects, they must:

• Include the requirements for prioritizing native plants in the contracts.
• Ensure that subcontractors are also required to follow these prioritization guidelines.

Agency Standards Update

Federal agencies must update their facility design and landscape standards to comply with the new focus on native plants within 270 days of the bill's enactment.

Guidance and Reporting

The Council on Environmental Quality must provide guidance to federal agencies on using native plants within 180 days of the bill’s enactment and publish reports every two years on:

• Best practices regarding native plants in federal projects.
• Scientific or environmental analyses of these projects and the effects of using native plants.
• Efforts by the federal government to promote native habitats.

Implementation Timeline

The bill sets specific time frames for various actions post-enactment, which include:

• Federal agencies must update their project plans and design standards within 270 days.
• The Council on Environmental Quality is tasked with distributing guidance within 180 days and reporting on the initiative every two years.

Relevant Companies

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