This bill aims to prioritize the procurement of lumber from Washington state mills for public works projects that receive significant state funding. Specifically, it mandates that any state, school district, or municipality entering into contracts for public construction projects costing over $500,000, where state funds cover more than half of the project cost, must source lumber in a descending order of priority from Washington, Oregon, and the United States. However, there are provisions for waiving these requirements if it is determined that compliance would not serve the public interest, if lumber is unavailable in sufficient quality or quantity, or if adhering to the requirement would increase costs by 10 percent or more.

Additionally, the bill outlines a process for issuing waivers, which includes public notice and a 30-day comment period before a final decision is made. It also stipulates that any part of the act that conflicts with federal requirements will be inoperative only to the extent of the conflict, ensuring that the remainder of the act remains effective. This legislation is designed to support local lumber industries while maintaining transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process for public works projects.