Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025

Summary

Authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to enter into contracts, grants, or agreements with state forestry agencies, local private or nonprofit groups, colleges and universities, Indian Tribes, and multistate coalitions to collect and store native seeds (including from managed seed orchards) and to grow seedlings for ecosystem restoration and revegetation. It also adds institutions of higher education to the list of eligible partners in the collaborative forest landscape restoration program. The bill expands who can partner with the Forest Service on seed banking and seedling production for restoration work, explicitly permits federal support through agreements rather than direct operations, and does not itself appropriate funds or change tax or budget reconciliation rules.

• Allows the Forest Service to contract with state agencies, nonprofits, universities, tribes, and coalitions to collect/store native seeds and grow seedlings for restoration.
• Includes institutions of higher education as explicit partners in the collaborative forest landscape restoration program.
• Covers seed collection, seed maintenance (including from managed seed orchards), and seedling production for revegetation use.
• Uses contracts, grants, or agreements—no new appropriation is provided in the text.
• Relies on existing ecosystem restoration authorities rather than creating a new program.
• Broadens the pool of eligible nonfederal partners, potentially increasing technical capacity and research involvement.
• Does not change tax policy, impose unfunded mandates, or create emergency spending.
• Targets activities supporting reforestation, habitat restoration, and resilience after disturbance.