Committee advances bill to allow locally graded lumber for New Mexico construction

House Bill 553, the Timber Grading Act, received a due pass from the Tax, Business and Transportation Committee after a public hearing in which backers said the measure would let New Mexico builders use lumber graded locally and opponents warned about structural-grade traceability and code compatibility.

Representative Vincent, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure would allow “residential construction the option of using locally produced lumber, vigas, and beams,” and he listed about 18 sawmills and three beam-producing facilities across New Mexico in communities including Taos, Raton, Las Vegas, Jemez Pueblo, Milan, Tularosa and Reserve. Vincent said HB553 would create market demand for timber removed during thinning and post-fire hazard removal, help offset import price increases and support rebuilding after wildfires.

The bill drew support from local and tribal representatives. Carrie Romba Brunder, representing Lincoln County, said committee staff consulted the Construction Industries Division (CID) and that CID confirmed local certification could be incorporated without requiring changes to existing building codes. “This is a local grown program,” Romba Brunder said, adding that the bill would help a sawmill project at Mescalero and keep wood in-state for local construction.

A Mescalero Apache Tribe representative identified only as Kim said the tribe supports HB553, which “establishes consistent grading standards for timber products in New Mexico” and would strengthen the state’s forestry economy; she said Mescalero owns two sawmills with plans to open them by year’s end.

Industry witnesses raised technical objections. David Kretchman, who identified himself as president of the American Lumber Standards committee, said the bill “cuts the very heart out of the ALC system,” arguing the current, consensus-based system ties grade stamps to design values and provides traceability and liability links that the proposal lacks. “Basically, the bill would codify ‘buyer beware,’” Kretchman said, adding that the draft does not provide tools or recourse for future owners if material fails.

Shane Nellis, regional manager for codes and standards at the American Wood Council, told the committee the PS 20 standard is referenced in the New Mexico Residential and Commercial Building Codes and supports structural provisions, such as span tables for floor joists and rafters. He warned that “any program that doesn’t meet that standard will make all those provisions of the codes unusable” and that separate grading paths would cause field-level confusion for contractors, designers and building officials.

Representative Vincent responded that the bill’s grading standards will “meet the PS 20 standards,” that the project team had discussed the measure with CID and that adopting local grading would reduce the need to pay out-of-state graders. He also said local sawmills and graders could be trained and certified in New Mexico.

Committee members asked about traceability and whether timber graded under the bill could be sold out of state. Senator O’Malley asked whether wood graded under the bill could be exported; Vincent said the bill does not prevent out-of-state sales and that the goal is to expand local markets and create jobs. Vincent also listed the information graders would record — grader name, sawmill name and location, species, quality and type of structural timber, intended location of use, cut and processing dates, grading date and moisture content — and said that labeling would provide traceability.

After public and committee discussion, Senator Sherr moved a due-pass recommendation, seconded by Senator Sanchez. The chair called for objections; seeing none, she instructed staff to record “all in attendance” as in favor of the due pass. The committee then advanced HB553 to the floor for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: the committee recorded a due pass on HB553; the committee chair announced that all members present voted in favor.