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Lumber preference bill draws industry testimony and questions on enforceability and cost
Summary
SB 529, which would give preference to lumber harvested in the United States on state‑funded building projects, drew extensive industry testimony on grading, inventory and price differences; the committee postponed action to gather more data and consider narrowing the preference to New Hampshire lumber.
Representative Davis introduced Senate Bill 529, saying the measure ‘‘gives preference to lumber sourced in the United States on all state‑funded building projects’’ and is intended to return value to the region’s timber industry.
Widespread testimony during the public hearing focused on lumber grading rules and market impacts. Industry witnesses explained the practical differences between the grading designations SPF (spruce‑pine‑fir, the Canadian designation commonly used by engineers) and SPFs (the U.S. designation used by many New England mills), and described inventory, specification…
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