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Expands federal support for seed orchards and plant nurseries used in reforestation by directing the Forest Service to provide partnerships, training, technical help, research, and information sharing. Requires the Secretary to create a competitive grant program within two years to fund capacity upgrades, new or expanded nurseries and seed orchards, quality control, and workforce development, and allows use of up to $5 million per year from the Reforestation Trust Fund for grants. Also shortens seed-collection permit approval timelines on National Forest System lands and clarifies eligible recipients and key terms to strengthen the reforestation supply chain.
The bill increases native seed supply, workforce training, tribal access, and speeds restoration work, but does so by drawing on the Reforestation Trust Fund and grant mechanisms that could divert funds or raise taxpayer costs and may shorten review time for some permit decisions.
Forest managers, restoration projects, and the public will have greater access to native seedlings, increasing capacity for reforestation and habitat restoration.
People seeking work in restoration will gain access to new training and job opportunities through grant-funded workforce-development programs and partnerships.
Permit applicants and land managers on National Forest lands will see faster seed‑collection permit approvals, reducing delays to restoration projects.
State forestry agencies, Indian Tribes, and qualified private nurseries can receive up to $5M/year to modernize nursery infrastructure and improve seed quality and survival.
Using up to $5M/year from the Reforestation Trust Fund and relying on grant expansions could divert funds from other reforestation programs and/or require ongoing appropriations, increasing costs for taxpayers or reducing funding for existing programs.
Shortening permit timelines may reduce time for environmental review and stakeholder input, increasing the risk of conflicts with nearby communities and conservation stakeholders over seed collection on public lands.
Designates the official short title of the Act as the "Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Support Act of 2026."
Allows the Act to also be cited as the "RNGR Support Act of 2026."
Require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, and research for nursery and tree establishment programs supporting natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation.
Require the Secretary to promote information sharing to improve technical knowledge and practices and to better understand reforestation needs related to seeds/seedlings, climate change effects, tree genetics (pathogen and drought resistance), and other reforestation supply chain issues.
Require the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to international nursery and tree establishment programs through Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry.
Agencies: The Forest Service will take on program setup, partnership coordination, and permit timeline changes, increasing administrative responsibilities but aiming to speed reforestation work. Programs: Federal and partnered reforestation and restoration programs should see improved seed and seedling availability and clearer channels for technical support. Nurseries & small businesses: Private nurseries and seed orchard operators can compete for grants to expand capacity, adopt quality control, and hire/train workers. Tribal, state, local partners, universities, and nonprofits: Can receive funding and technical help to support regional seed needs, research, and workforce training. Rural and forested communities: Likely to benefit from faster restoration of burned or degraded lands, potential job growth in nursery and restoration work, and improved local capacity for reforestation. Constraints: The grant funding source is capped at $5 million per year from the Trust Fund, which may limit the scale of investments compared with total national need; further appropriations or program details will shape actual impact.
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Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced February 25, 2026 by Kim Schrier · Last progress February 25, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House