Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2026”.

(a) Urban Bird Treaty Program.—

(1) In general.— The Director shall establish a program for the voluntary conservation of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas, to be known as the “Urban Bird Treaty Program”.

(2) Program duties.— In carrying out the Program, the Director shall—

(A) work with and support covered entities to—

(i) protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and restoration of native plant species;

(ii) reduce urban hazards to birds;

(iii) engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas; and

(iv) educate and engage communities in caring about and conserving birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas;

(B) provide technical and financial assistance through partnerships with covered entities to build capacity for, plan, and carry out projects related to activities described in subparagraph (A); and

(C) facilitate collaboration and information sharing among covered entities and the public with respect to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of urban bird habitats.

(3) Grant program.—

(A) In general.— The Director shall establish a competitive grant program to award amounts to eligible entities for the purposes of conducting research, planning, assessments, management, building capacity, monitoring, collaboration and information sharing, workforce training, and accomplishing related activities as described in paragraph (2) with respect to the conservation, restoration, enhancement or management of urban birds and the habitats of urban birds.

(B) Applications.— To be eligible for a grant under this paragraph, an eligible entity shall submit to the Director an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate.

(C) Administration.—

(i) Agreement.— The Director may enter into an agreement with the Foundation for the Foundation to administer the grant program established under subparagraph (A) pursuant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.).

(ii) Application of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act.— Section 10(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)) shall not apply with respect to—

(I) an agreement entered into under clause (i); or

(II) amounts made available to carry out this section.

(iii) Geographic distribution.— The Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, equitable distribution of awards among and between small, midsize, and large cities, as described in the document titled “Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates Program (EDGE): Locale Boundaries Technical Documentation” published by the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department of Education.

(b) Definitions.— In this section:

(1) Covered entity.— The term covered entity means—

(A) a Federal, Tribal, State, or municipal agency;

(B) a nongovernmental organization;

(C) a community group; and

(D) an academic institution.

(2) Director.— The term Director means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(3) Eligible entity.— The term eligible entity means—

(A) a Tribal, State, or municipal agency;

(B) a nongovernmental organization;

(C) a community group; and

(D) an academic institution.

(4) Foundation.— The term Foundation means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a) of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)).

(5) Program.— The term Program means the Urban Bird Treaty Program established under subsection (a)(1).

(6) Urban.— The term urban has the meaning given the term urban area in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.

(c) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2033.