The bipartisan Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill incentivizes timber construction in federal contracting with mass timber made within the U.S. and products that are sourced from restoration practices, fire mitigation projects, and forest owners. If enacted, the bill would also require a whole-building life cycle assessment to demonstrate the environmental benefits of timber products in federal buildings.

Federal support for mass timber has grown in recent years. Mass timber often receives early consideration for military projects, and in 2023 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mandated that a mass timber structural option be considered at the design stage for all its vertical construction projects. If the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act is passed, it will reinforce timber’s role as a sustainable building material and expand opportunities for mass timber manufacturers, designers, and contractors.