Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026
When constructing, renovating, or leasing federal buildings and military facilities, government agencies would be required to prioritize American-made innovative wood materials, such as mass timber. The policy favors timber harvested through forest restoration, wildfire-prevention clearing near communities, and wood from Tribal or small family-owned forests. Additionally, the government must conduct and publish a study analyzing the greenhouse gas and climate impacts of constructing buildings with these wood products.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- U.S. innovative wood product manufacturersReceives federal contracting preference when GSA and the Department of Defense procure materials for public buildings and military installations, provided the wood is harvested and manufactured responsibly in the United States.
- Tribal and small family forest ownersReceives specific federal procurement preference for innovative wood products sourced from their land for federal and military building projects.
- Forest restoration and wildfire management operatorsReceives procurement preference when innovative wood products used in federal building projects are sourced from forest restoration practices or wildfire risk reduction projects.
Who it burdens
- General Services AdministrationRequired to prioritize federal building and military installation contracts that maximize the use of domestic innovative wood products, verify sourcing documentation, and conduct a whole-building lifecycle assessment and public report to Congress.
- Department of DefenseRequired to prioritize construction, alteration, acquisition, or leasing contracts for military installations that maximize the use of domestic innovative wood products and verify compliance with sourcing criteria.
The provisions, in plain language.
Requires the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense, when contracting to build, alter, acquire, or lease federal public buildings or military installations, to prioritize projects that maximize the use of innovative wood products harvested and manufactured from responsible sources in the United States.
Requires federal agencies procuring innovative wood products to give contracting preference to materials sourced from ecological forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction projects, or underserved forest owners such as Tribes and small family forests.
Directs the General Services Administration, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to conduct a whole-building lifecycle assessment evaluating the climate impact of federal buildings constructed with innovative wood products and submit a public report on the findings to Congress.