Sponsors (4)
The bill shifts federal landscaping toward native plants to boost habitat, pollinators, and long‑term maintenance savings while creating short‑term cost, scheduling, compliance, and administrative burdens for contractors, agencies, and taxpayers.
Local governments and rural communities will get more native-plant habitat and improved support for native pollinators because federal projects will prioritize native-plant use in landscaping.
Federal agencies, contractors, and the public gain clearer guidance and greater transparency because CEQ guidance and biennial public reporting establish standards, accountability, and knowledge‑sharing.
Federal facility managers and taxpayers can see lower long‑term landscape maintenance costs as native plants reduce water use and stormwater runoff, cutting ongoing maintenance expenses.
Taxpayers and contractors may face higher short‑term project costs or schedule delays when native plant stock is limited or more expensive, increasing near‑term project budgets.
Contractors will face increased compliance burdens from mandated contract and subcontract requirements, which can raise administrative costs and complicate bidding and performance.
Federal employees and agencies will incur recurring administrative workload from biennial reporting and standards updates, diverting staff time and resources from other tasks.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Mandates federal agencies prioritize native plants in qualifying construction and maintenance projects, update standards, require contractor compliance, and direct CEQ guidance and biennial reporting.
Official title: To require the priority and consideration of using native plants in Federal projects, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 21, 2025 by Mikie Sherrill · Last progress February 21, 2025
Requires federal agencies to prioritize using native plants in qualifying federal construction and maintenance projects, incorporate that requirement into contracts and subcontracts, and update facility design or landscape standards. Directs the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality to issue guidance within 180 days and every two years thereafter and to publish a public report on native plant use biennially beginning within two years of enactment.