SB 867 — Relating to: grants for planting trees to address urban heat islands, eligible recipients for urban forestry grants, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Summary

An Act to renumber and amend 23.097 (1); to amend 23.097 (1g) and 23.097 (1r); to create 23.097 (1) (b) and 23.097 (1m) of the statutes;

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the urban forestry grant program to include grants for planting trees to combat urban heat islands and adjusts the program's funding and administrative procedures.

• 23.097 (1)

  In this section, a “nonprofit organization” means an organization that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code. → In this section, a “nonprofit: (a) “Nonprofit organization” means an organization that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

  The definition of 'nonprofit organization' is reformatted and clarified.

• 23.097 (1g)

  The department shall award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, and nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state for up to 50 percent of the cost of tree management plans, tree inventories, brush residue projects, the development of tree management ordinances, tree disease evaluations, public education concerning trees in urban areas and other tree projects.

  Federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands are included as eligible recipients for existing grants.

• 23.097 (1)

  “Urban heat island” means an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than the surrounding natural land cover.

  A definition of 'urban heat island' is added to the statute.

• 23.097 (1m)

  The department shall award grants to counties, cities, villages, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state to cover the costs of planting, maintaining, and removing and replacing trees in urban and metropolitan areas to reduce the negative effects of urban heat islands. Grants under this subsection may not exceed $100,000 and may be made for the full amount of the costs of an eligible project.

  A new grant program for addressing urban heat islands is established.

• 23.097 (1r)

  In addition to the grants awarded under sub. subs. (1g) and (1m), the department may award grants to counties, cities, village, towns, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in this state that apply for the grants for the costs of removing, saving, and replacing trees that have been damaged by catastrophic storm events in urban areas.

  The language is refined to include federally recognized American Indian tribes for storm damage grants.

• 20.370 (5) (az)

  the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $500,000 to provide grants under s. 23.097 (1m) relating to urban heat islands.

  Funding for the urban forestry grant program is increased by $500,000 for urban heat island projects.

• s. 227.24

  the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. → the department is not required to prepare a statement of scope of the rules promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1g., the department is not required to present the rules promulgated under this subsection to the governor for approval.

  Emergency rule-making procedures for tree planting grants are streamlined, removing some requirements.

Action History

1. March 23, 2026

   Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

2. March 19, 2026

   Representative Mayadev added as a cosponsor

3. March 19, 2026

   Senator Habush Sinykin added as a coauthor

4. February 04, 2026

   Fiscal estimate received

5. February 02, 2026

   Representative Clancy added as a cosponsor

6. January 26, 2026

   Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor

7. January 23, 2026

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs

8. January 23, 2026

   Introduced by Senators Drake, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Larson, Roys, Smith and Wall; cosponsored by Representatives Tenorio, Subeck, Arney, Bare, Goodwin, Hong, Joers, Madison, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Palmeri, Prado, Sheehan, Sinicki, Stroud, Udell and Vining

Sponsors

• Tenorio · Cosponsor
• Subeck · Cosponsor
• Arney · Cosponsor
• Bare · Cosponsor
• Goodwin · Cosponsor
• Hong · Cosponsor
• Joers · Cosponsor
• Madison · Cosponsor
• Miresse · Cosponsor
• Moore Omokunde · Cosponsor
• Neubauer · Cosponsor
• Palmeri · Cosponsor
• Prado · Cosponsor
• Sheehan · Cosponsor
• Sinicki · Cosponsor
• Stroud · Cosponsor
• Udell · Cosponsor
• Vining · Cosponsor
• Dora Drake · Primary
• Tim Carpenter · Cosponsor
• Dianne Hesselbein · Cosponsor
• LaTonya Johnson · Cosponsor
• Chris Larson · Cosponsor
• Kelda Roys · Cosponsor
• Jeff Smith · Cosponsor
• Jamie Wall · Cosponsor

Subjects