I 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Building Native Habi-
tats at Federal Facilities Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PRIORITY AND CONSIDERATION OF THE USE OF NA-
TIVE PLANTS IN FEDERAL PROJECTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive 
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agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(2) FEDERAL
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Federal 
project’’ means a construction or maintenance activ-
ity 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 improve-
ments; and 
(C) is located in a State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, or a common-
wealth, territory, or possession of the United 
States. 
(3) NATIVE PLANT.—The term ‘‘native plant’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘native plant spe-
cies’’ 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 para-
graph (2), not later than 270 days after the date of 
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enactment of this Act, any Federal agency that car-
ries out a Federal project shall— 
(A) prioritize, as feasible with respect to 
cost, schedule, and product supply or a sci-
entific, 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, pro-
viding food and shelter to insect and wildlife 
populations, decreasing soil erosion and land-
scape water usage, increasing sediment control, 
and controlling stormwater runoff, of using na-
tive plants over the life of the Federal project 
when deciding whether to use native plants. 
(2) TURFGRASS AND LAWNS.—A Federal agen-
cy— 
(A) is not required to prioritize and con-
sider turfgrass and lawn plantings as required 
by paragraph (1); but 
(B) is encouraged to consider, with respect 
to cost, schedule, product supply, overall main-
tenance requirements, and property usage, the 
planting of native plants on appropriate areas 
of existing or planned turfgrass and lawns, par-
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ticularly 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 re-
quirements described in subsection (b) in the con-
tract, to the maximum extent practicable; and 
(2) require that any subcontract (at any tier) of 
that contract include those priority and consider-
ation requirements. 
(d) UPDATE TO AGENCY-SPECIFIC DESIGN STAND-
ARDS.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enact-
ment 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 accord-
ance 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 there-
after, 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 sec-
tion. 
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(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 var-
ious Federal projects. 
(2) A general analysis of scientific or environ-
mental findings relating to selected Federal projects, 
the types of plants used, and any quantifiable im-
pacts of native plant usage in the Federal projects. 
(3) A description of how the Federal Govern-
ment is promoting native habitats and native plant 
usage. 
Æ 
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