GROUSE Act of 2026

This legislative proposal establishes a new program under the Food Security Act of 1985 to incentivize the restoration of upland species habitat on private lands. The program authorizes the Secretary to provide payments to landowners who enter into contracts for restoring eligible forest land, aiming to enhance ecosystems for upland wildlife. To qualify, forest land must be nonindustrial private land, at least 10 acres in size, and meet specific criteria such as having been commercially logged recently or currently, or affected by a major natural disaster like wildfires or insect infestations. Landowners can receive payments covering 75 percent of the costs for habitat restoration activities, including labor, planting, and materials for establishing native vegetation beneficial to upland wildlife. Contracts for this program have a term not exceeding five years and require a habitat plan developed in consultation with wildlife experts, with the Secretary also offering technical assistance.