This bill aims to enhance the use of New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber by amending the state building code to include spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber as an equivalent alternative. The legislation recognizes that much of the structural timber harvested in New Hampshire, particularly from Coos County, is comparable in quality to Canadian SPF lumber, which is often viewed as superior due to its international grading standards. The bill seeks to eliminate the existing barriers that disadvantage New Hampshire sawmills and loggers by allowing SPFS lumber, when graded appropriately, to be accepted wherever SPF is specified in construction documents.

Key provisions of the bill include the acceptance of SPFS lumber graded by either a permitted grader or an American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) accredited agency, ensuring that structural design and inspection utilize published SPFS design values. Municipalities are required to accept native lumber certificates or ALSC grade stamps as proof of grade. Additionally, the bill allows licensed architects and engineers to specify higher strength materials if necessary for safety, while also promoting the use of SPFS lumber in construction. The act will take effect 180 days after passage, on November 14, 2026.