Neighborhood Tree Act of 2023

The Neighborhood Tree Act of 2023 establishes a federal Neighborhood Tree Fund to address inequities in urban tree canopy coverage. It authorizes $100 million in 2024, increasing to $700 million by 2028, for grants to states, tribes, and local governments to plant and maintain trees in underserved communities. Priority is given to projects in census tracts with poverty rates ≥20%, historically redlined areas, or neighborhoods with lower tree cover and higher heat risks compared to surrounding areas. The bill requires projects to include community engagement, climate science, and long-term maintenance planning to improve health, environmental, and economic benefits. It directly targets communities disproportionately affected by lack of tree canopy, as documented by findings showing 33% less tree cover in majority-people-of-color neighborhoods and 41% less in low-income areas.