New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 16 R · 3 D cosponsors

SB 503 — relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.

Last action — Signed by the Governor on 05/18/2026; Chapter 77; Effective 11/14/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 21, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on May 19, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 20 sponsors

    1 primary, 19 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (16 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill allows New Hampshire spruce-pine-fir lumber to be used like Canadian SPF lumber in construction.

This legislation promotes the use of New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber by allowing it to be classified as SPF within the state building code. This change aims to support local sawmills and builders by removing barriers that currently disadvantage local lumber.

What this means for you
  • Small Business: This means local sawmills and builders can compete more effectively by using locally sourced wood without facing discrimination under building codes.

Summary

relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

58 added · 54 removed

Plain-language change summary

The final version of Bill SB 503 clarifies the inclusion of spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber alongside spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber in the state building code. The changes highlight that New Hampshire's lumber, especially from Coos County, is comparable to SPF lumber classified in Canada, countering the perception that SPFS is inferior. This adjustment is important because it aims to level the playing field for local sawmills and loggers, promoting regional resources and supporting the state's forestry industry.

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Latest
SB 503 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 02/19/2026 0513s 04/23/2026 1668EBA SESSION 26-2099 12/09 SENATE BILL 503 AN ACT relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.
CHAPTER 77 SB 503 - FINAL VERSION 02/19/2026 0513s 04/23/2026 1668EBA SESSION 26-2099 12/09 SENATE BILL 503 AN ACT relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.
Commerce ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill promotes the use of New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir lumber by specifying that spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber shall include spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber within the New Hampshire building code.
Commerce ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill promotes the use of New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir lumber by specifying that spruce- pine-fir (SPF) lumber shall include spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber within the New Hampshire building code.
SB 503 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 02/19/2026 0513s 04/23/2026 1668EBA 26-2099 12/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.
CHAPTER 77 SB 503 - FINAL VERSION 02/19/2026 0513s 04/23/2026 1668EBA 26-2099 12/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.
1 Statement of Findings and Purpose.
77:1 Statement of Findings and Purpose.
The majority of structural timber harvested for building materials in New Hampshire comes from Coos County and many areas of Coos County extend farther north than portions of Canada where lumber is graded as spruce pine fir (SPF).
The majority of structural timber harvested for building materials in New Hampshire comes from Coos County and many areas of Coos County extend farther north than portions of Canada where lumber is graded as spruce-pine-fir (SPF).
2 New Section;
77:2 New Section;
For purposes of the state building code, spruce-pine-fir south (SPFS) lumber harvested and milled in New Hampshire and graded either by a grader permitted under RSA 426:18 or by an SB 503 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) accredited agency shall be accepted wherever spruce-pine-fir (SPF) is specified.
For purposes of the state building code, spruce-pine-fir south (SPFS) lumber harvested and milled in New Hampshire and graded either by a grader permitted under RSA 426:18 or by an American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) accredited agency shall be accepted wherever spruce-pine-fir (SPF) is specified.
II.
CHAPTER 77 SB 503 - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - II.
3 Effective Date.
77:3 Effective Date.
Approved:
May 18, 2026 Effective Date:
November 14, 2026
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How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

Compared against the N.H. Revised Statutes Annotated as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows for New Hampshire-grown spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber to be accepted in place of spruce-pine-fir-south (SPFS) lumber under the state building code.

  • RSA 155-A

    155-A:15 Use of Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) Lumber and Spruce-Pine-Fir-South (SPFS) Lumber. I. For purposes of the state building code, spruce-pine-fir south (SPFS) lumber harvested and milled in New Hampshire and graded either by a grader permitted under RSA 426:18 or by an American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) accredited agency shall be accepted wherever spruce-pine-fir (SPF) is specified. II. Structural design and inspection shall use the published SPFS design values for the grade and size provided. III. Where a code evaluation report, product listing, or manufacturer's installation instructions differentiate allowable loads or limitations by lumber species group, the allowable loads corresponding to the installed species group shall be used. When SPFS lumber is installed, the values for SPFS shall govern. This requirement shall apply, but not be limited to, structural connectors, hangers, fasteners, truss plates, adhesives, and proprietary systems. IV. Municipalities shall accept either a native lumber certificate pursuant to RSA 426:18 or an ALSC grade stamp as sufficient proof of grade. V. Nothing herein shall prevent a licensed architect or engineer from specifying higher strength materials if required for safety and structural integrity of a structure. Licensed architects and structural engineers shall also consider and shall provide alternative options of construction utilizing SPFS lumber. VI. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of SPF lumber graded by an ALSC accredited agency.

    This addition allows SPF lumber from New Hampshire to be used where SPF is specified in building codes.

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor on 05/18/2026; Chapter 77; Effective 11/14/2026

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1668e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 04/23/2026); SJ 11

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1668e: AA VV (in recess of) 04/23/2026

  6. Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10

  7. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/25/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC)

  8. Executive Session: 03/25/2026 10:00 am GP 228

  9. Public Hearing: 03/25/2026 10:00 am GP 228

  10. Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 5 P. 124

  11. Committee Amendment # 2026-0513s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  12. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0513s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  13. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0513s, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6

  14. Hearing: 01/27/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:45 am; SC 1

  15. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 19 co-sponsors · 395 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (19)

Not signed on (395)

395 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 395 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 503 do?
relative to the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber.
Who sponsors SB 503?
SB 503 is sponsored by Dan J. Davis, Victoria Sullivan (Republican), Tara Reardon (Democrat), Tim McGough (Republican), Mark McConkey (Republican), David Rochefort (Republican), Keith Murphy (Republican), Mike Ouellet (Republican), Daryl Abbas (Republican), Howard Pearl (Republican), Timothy Lang (Republican), Daniel Innis (Republican), Bill Gannon (Republican), Ruth Ward (Republican), James Gray (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Regina Birdsell (Republican), David Watters (Democrat), Sharon Carson (Republican), and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 503?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 21, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 503?
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