Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Expand Mass Timber Use in Federal Buildings

Bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress aims to expand the use of mass timber and other innovative wood products in federal construction projects, creating new opportunities for domestic timber producers while supporting sustainable building practices, Construction Owners reported (6-1-26).

US Representatives Glenn Thompson and Andrea Salinas recently introduced the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act. The bill would establish incentives for federal agencies to use mass timber materials in the construction, renovation, and acquisition of public buildings, including military facilities.

Supporters said the measure would help expand markets for American-made timber products, strengthen rural economies, and promote responsible forest management. The legislation creates a two-tier contracting preference for mass timber and other innovative wood construction projects. The first tier would apply to mass timber products manufactured in the US and sourced responsibly from state, federal, private, and Tribal forestlands.

An optional second tier would favor products derived from forest restoration efforts, wildfire mitigation projects, and participating forest owners. The bill also would require whole-building lifecycle assessments to evaluate environmental impacts and provide additional data on the sustainability benefits of timber construction.

The proposal has received support from forestry, manufacturing, and landowner organizations, which view expanded federal use of mass timber as an opportunity to strengthen domestic markets.