HB 553 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

TIMBER GRADING ACT

HB 553 establishes New Mexico's first state-specific structural timber grading system. It requires sawmill owners or employees to earn a certification to grade and label dimensional lumber, beams, and vigas processed in-state, with labels including details like sawmill location, species, moisture content, and processing dates. The law allows this locally graded timber to be used in all residential and commercial construction as equivalent to nationally certified lumber, replacing the need for external grade stamps. Building inspectors must accept these state-issued labels as proof of compliance, and certificates expire after five years with a $250 fee for issuance.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from an introduced draft to a final version with substantive changes to the Timber Grading Act. The final version clarifies the bill's purpose, adds detailed definitions for key terms, establishes division powers and duties for creating a grading program, sets specific requirements for certificates and labels, and authorizes a fee for certificate issuance.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on in-state structural timber grading, but the final version expands on implementation details including program creation, certificate requirements, and label information standards.

TECHNICAL

Removed bracketed draft markings and renumbered sections for final legislative format

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'building inspector', 'certificate', 'division', 'grader', 'label', 'program', and 'structural timber'

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for the structural timber grading certificate program including training provision and state-specific grading system development

Added detailed requirements for structural timber grading labels including grader name, sawmill location, timber species, quantity, usage location, cutting date, grading date, and moisture content

FISCAL

Authorized a fee not to exceed $250 for issuance of a structural timber grading certificate

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions for suspension or revocation of certificates with notice, hearing opportunities, and appeal procedures

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that graders must only grade timber they have processed at sawmills they own or are employed by

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2025 · House Mar 13, 2025

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 40

Mar 22, 2025

D Democratic24

19 Yea 5

79% Yea

R Republican16

14 Yea 2

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors