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HR 9080

Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Don Davis and 3 co-sponsors

The bill creates a contracting preference to favor public-building projects that use innovative wood products.

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4088)
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Bill Summary · HR 9080

Overview

HR 9080 is a bill introduced in the 119th Congress that seeks to establish a contracting preference for public buildings that use innovative wood products in their construction. The core aim is to encourage the use of new or advanced wood products in federally funded or public-building construction projects, potentially by giving preference in procurement or contracting processes to projects that incorporate these innovations. The bill has sponsors and co-sponsors, and its action history shows referral to relevant committees for consideration.

Main purpose and intent

  • To promote the use of innovative wood products in the construction of public buildings.
  • To establish a contracting preference that favors projects employing these innovative wood products, thereby encouraging industry adoption, potentially stimulating innovation in wood technologies, supply chains, and sustainable building practices.

Key provisions and changes (as implied)

Note: The exact statutory text is not provided here, but the bill is described as establishing a contracting preference. Based on typical structure, anticipated elements may include:
- Creation of a contracting preference for bids or proposals that incorporate eligible innovative wood products in the construction of public buildings.
- Definition of “innovative wood products” (e.g., cross-laminated timber, mass timber, engineered wood, or other new wood technologies) and criteria that must be met for a product to qualify.
- Eligibility requirements for projects to receive the contracting preference (e.g., public construction projects funded in whole or in part by federal funds, compliance with safety, performance, and code requirements).
- Evaluation criteria under bidding processes that give preferential weight to proposals using these products, possibly including life-cycle cost analysis, environmental benefits, or resilience considerations.
- Compliance and reporting requirements to verify the use of innovative wood products in certified projects.
- Potential considerations regarding adherence to existing building codes, safety standards, and environmental standards.

Who or what would be affected

  • Public construction projects funded by federal, state, or local authorities that are subject to the contracting rules or that fall under the intended scope of the preference.
  • Construction contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers of innovative wood products who could benefit from the procurement preference.
  • Public building stakeholders (owners, facilities managers, and policymakers) seeking to leverage innovative wood products for performance, sustainability, or cost considerations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction of the bill in the House on 2026-05-29.
  • Referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for consideration of provisions within their jurisdiction. The timeline for further action will be determined by the committees and subsequent floor actions.
  • Co-sponsors include G.T. Thompson and Andrea Salinas, indicating bipartisan or cross-partisan support signals, though the bill’s fate pending committee consideration remains undetermined.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Environmental impact: Encourages use of wood products, potentially reducing embodied carbon in buildings if life-cycle assessments favor wood.
  • Industry impact: Could create demand for innovative wood products and foster R&D, manufacturing capacity, and supply-chain development.
  • Code and safety: Requires alignment with building codes and safety standards; may necessitate updates or clarifications in regulatory frameworks to accommodate innovative wood technologies.
  • Economic impact: Possible effects on project costs, long-term maintenance, and lifecycle costs; the extent depends on how the preference is structured (e.g., financial incentives vs. non-financial weighting).

If you want, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, developers, or researchers) or add hypothetical examples of how the contracting preference might be applied in a typical federal building project.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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