HR-5335 : Still Just a Bill

The "Special Forest Products Program Reauthorization Act of 2023" (H.R. 5335) aims to establish a program requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to charge fees for forest botanical products harvested from National Forest System lands. Key provisions include:

• Fair Market Value: Mandates the Secretary to collect fees that reflect the fair market value of harvested products.
• Fee Structure: Requires the Secretary to charge fees to cover the cost of the harvested products and the expenses incurred by the Department of Agriculture for granting, modifying, or monitoring authorization for harvest.
• Sustainability: Directs the Secretary to conduct analyses to ensure sustainable harvesting practices and prohibits harvest levels exceeding sustainable limits.
• Waivers: Allows waivers for personal use harvesting below a certain level and provides the Secretary authority to prescribe other exceptions.
• Use of Funds: Establishes a special account in the Treasury for deposited fees, which will be used to cover costs associated with inventories, sustainable harvest level determination, monitoring, restoration, and program administration. These funds will not be considered for revenue allocation purposes under other existing laws.
• Reporting: Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing program activities, funds collected, expenses incurred, and expenditures made.
• Definitions: Defines "forest botanical product" as naturally occurring vegetation like mushrooms, flowers, and roots found on National Forest System lands, excluding trees (except as regulated). It also defines "National Forest System" and "Secretary" for clarity within the Act.