AB 879

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers an urban forestry grants program to provide grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to undertake various tree projects in urban areas.

This bill requires DNR, under the urban forestry grants program, to also award grants of up to $100,000 to municipalities, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state, and nonprofit organizations to plant trees to reduce the effects of urban heat islands. The bill defines an “urban heat island” as an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than the surrounding natural land cover. The bill increases funding for the urban forestry grant program by $500,000 in the 2025-26 fiscal year from the conservation fund to provide these new grants and allows DNR to promulgate emergency rules to administer the grant program. The bill also clarifies that federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state are also eligible for the other types of grants under the existing program.