HB 1204 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

relative to the grading and use of timber grown in New Hampshire.

HB 1204 allows New Hampshire-harvested softwood timber (above 44°N latitude) to be classified as spruce-pine-fir (SPF) if it meets national structural and visual grading standards. It requires state-funded building projects in New Hampshire to prioritize lumber harvested within the state, unless design needs require imported materials. The bill directly affects New Hampshire timber growers by expanding eligibility for SPF grading and state construction projects by changing procurement rules. These provisions become effective 60 days after the bill's passage.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Apr 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies → CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 2 edits

MINOR

No substantive policy changes were made between the version adopted by both bodies and the final chaptered version. The changes are entirely technical and administrative: the bill was assigned Chapter 32, its sections were renumbered with the chapter prefix (e.g., section 1 became 32:1), and approval and effective dates were added at the end.

TECHNICAL

The bill was assigned Chapter 32 in the compiled laws, and all section numbers were updated to include the chapter prefix (e.g., '1 Statement of Findings' became '32:1 Statement of Findings').

TIMELINE

Approval date (April 22, 2026) and effective date (October 19, 2026) were added at the end of the document, confirming the 180-day effective period already stated in the bill.

Introduced → As Amended by the House · 8 edits

MODERATE

The House amendment fundamentally changed the bill's approach: instead of making northern New Hampshire timber eligible for SPF grading (as introduced), the amended version requires the state building code to accept SPFS lumber wherever SPF is specified, while still using SPFS design values for structural calculations. The provision requiring state-funded buildings to prefer New Hampshire lumber was removed entirely. A detailed statement of findings was added explaining the policy rationale.

SCOPE

The core mechanism changed from making NH timber at or above 44°N latitude eligible for SPF grading (a change to the grading designation itself) to requiring the building code to accept SPFS lumber wherever SPF is specified. The amended bill does not change the grade name; it changes how the building code treats the two grades as equivalent for acceptance purposes.

The introduced bill's requirement that state-funded buildings give preference to New Hampshire-harvested lumber (new paragraph III in RSA 155-A:13) was deleted entirely from the amended version.

REQUIREMENT

New provision requires that structural design and inspection use published SPFS design values, meaning engineers must calculate using the slightly lower strength values for SPFS even though it is accepted wherever SPF is specified.

New provision requires licensed architects and structural engineers to consider and provide alternative construction options using SPFS lumber, while still allowing them to specify higher-strength materials when needed for safety.

TECHNICAL

New provision addresses species-group differentiation in code evaluation reports, product listings, and manufacturer installation instructions (connectors, hangers, fasteners, truss plates, adhesives, proprietary systems), requiring that the values corresponding to the actually installed species group govern.

ENFORCEMENT

New provision requires municipalities to accept either a native lumber certificate under RSA 426:18 or an ALSC grade stamp as sufficient proof of grade.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from 60 days after passage to 180 days after passage, giving stakeholders three months instead of two to prepare.

DEFINITION

A six-part statement of findings was added establishing the policy rationale, including that Coos County timber is comparable to Canadian SPF, that the SPF/SPFS distinction disadvantages NH industry, and that wood density should be determined by latitude rather than political borders.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 22, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by Governor Ayotte 04/22/2026; Chapter 32; eff. 10/19/2026

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 6

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0471h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 33

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Amendment # 2026-0471h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 33

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0471h 02/11/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 26

lower

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 10

lower

0 primary · 3 co-sponsors