This bill requires federal agencies to prioritize using native plants in construction and maintenance projects at federal facilities across the country, as long as doing so is feasible with respect to cost, schedule, and product availability. Federal agencies must consider the environmental benefits of native plants, such as supporting pollinators, reducing water usage, controlling erosion, and managing stormwater runoff, when making landscaping decisions. The legislation applies to federal contractors and subcontractors, who must include these native plant requirements in their contracts, and directs federal agencies to update their design standards and maintenance requirements to comply with the new priorities within 270 days of the bill's enactment. The Council on Environmental Quality must provide guidance to federal agencies within 180 days and then every two years, and must publish public reports every two years documenting federal agencies' use of native plants and the environmental outcomes achieved. The bill exempts standard turfgrass and lawn areas from mandatory requirements but encourages their conversion to native plants where appropriate.
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