North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H184 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 184
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10055-NN-21
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Promote North Carolina Sawmills. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Gillespie, Brody, Greene, and Penny (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Agriculture and Environment, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
11		-	House
12		-	February 25, 2025
13		-	H184 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Gillespie.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10055 -NN-21
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO PROMOTE LOCAL SAWMILLS BY ALLOWING THE USE OF UNGRADED 2
16	15		LUMBER IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. 3
17	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
18	17		SECTION 1.(a) Definitions. – For purposes of this section, the following definitions 5
19	18		apply: 6
20	19		(1) Dimension lumber. – Lumber that has not been grade-stamped under the 7
21	20		authority of a lumber grading bureau. 8
22	21		(2) Small mill. – A sawmill that mills less than 1,000,000 board feet of lumber 9
23	22		per year. 10
24	23		SECTION 1.(b) The North Carolina Residential Code Council shall amend the 11
25	24		North Carolina Residential Code in order to permit dimension lumber that has not been 12
26	25		grade-stamped under the authority of a lumber grading bureau to be used in the construction of 13
27	26		one- and two-family dwellings, when that use meets all of the following requirements: 14
28	27		(1) The lumber is sold directly by the owner or employee of the sawmill that 15
29	28		milled the lumber to the owner of the dwelling to be constructed or that 16
30	29		person's authorized representative. 17
31	30		(2) The dimension lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of the North 18
32	31		Carolina Residential Code other than the requirements that only 19
33	32		grade-stamped lumber be used in residential construction. 20
34	33		(3) The operator of the sawmill has a certificate from a state-approved lumber 21
35	34		grading training program, certifies that the lumber conforms with product and 22
36	35		inspection standards under American Softwood Lumber Standard PS20, and 23
37	36		marks the lumber with (i) the mill number, name, or abbreviation, (ii) the 24
38	37		species or combination of species of the lumber, (iii) whether the lumber was 25
39	38		dry or green when manufactured as required by American Softwood Lumber 26
40	39		Standard PS20, and (iv) whether the lumber conforms with PS20 standards. 27
41	40		(4) The appropriate code enforcement official reviews the framing of the dwelling 28
42	41		to ensure that it meets the requirements of the North Carolina Residential 29
43	42		Code in all respects other than the requirements that only grade-stamped 30
44	43		lumber be used in residential construction. The code enforcement official shall 31
45	44		not be liable for any structural failure that occurs as a result of the use of 32
46		-	dimension lumber rather than grade-stamped lumber. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 House Bill 184-First Edition
48		-	(5) The sawmill provides to the purchaser a certificate containing all of the 1
49		-	following information: 2
50		-	a. A statement of the species of wood, quantity milled, and address where 3
51		-	the lumber will be used. 4
52		-	b. The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 5
53		-	who milled the lumber. 6
54		-	c. A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of 7
55		-	the North Carolina Residential Code with the exception that it has not 8
56		-	been grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 9
57		-	d. The date of sale of the lumber. 10
58		-	SECTION 1.(c) The North Carolina Residential Code Council shall amend the North 11
59		-	Carolina Residential Code and the North Carolina Building Code Council shall amend the North 12
60		-	Carolina Building Code in order to permit dimension lumber that has not been grade-stamped 13
61		-	under the authority of a lumber grading bureau to be used in the construction of one- and 14
62		-	two-family dwellings and structures classified as Residential Group R-2 or R-3, when that use 15
63		-	meets all of the following requirements: 16
64		-	(1) The lumber is sold directly by the owner or employee of a small mill or a 17
65		-	mobile sawmill that milled the lumber to the owner of the structure to be 18
66		-	constructed or that person's authorized representative. 19
67		-	(2) The dimension lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of the North 20
68		-	Carolina Residential Code or the North Carolina Building Code, as applicable, 21
69		-	other than the requirements that only grade-stamped lumber be used in 22
70		-	residential construction. 23
71		-	(3) The operator of the small mill or mobile sawmill has a certificate from a 24
72		-	state-approved lumber grading training program, certifies that the lumber 25
73		-	conforms with product and inspection standards under American Softwood 26
74		-	Lumber Standard PS20, and marks the lumber with (i) the mill number, name, 27
75		-	or abbreviation, (ii) the species or combination of species of the lumber, (iii) 28
76		-	whether the lumber was dry or green when manufactured as required by 29
77		-	American Softwood Lumber Standard PS20, and (iv) whether the lumber 30
78		-	conforms with PS20 standards. 31
79		-	(4) The appropriate code enforcement official reviews the framing of the structure 32
80		-	to ensure that it meets the requirements of the North Carolina Residential 33
81		-	Code or the North Carolina Building Code, as applicable, in all respects other 34
82		-	than the requirements that only grade-stamped lumber be used in residential 35
83		-	construction. The code enforcement official shall not be liable for any 36
84		-	structural failure that occurs as a result of the use of dimension lumber rather 37
85		-	than grade-stamped lumber. 38
86		-	(5) The small mill or mobile sawmill provides to the purchaser a certificate 39
87		-	containing all of the following: 40
88		-	a. A statement of the species of wood, quantity milled, and address where 41
89		-	the lumber will be used. 42
90		-	b. The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 43
91		-	who milled the lumber. 44
92		-	c. A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of 45
93		-	the North Carolina State Building Code with the exception that it has 46
94		-	not been grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 47
95		-	d. The date of sale of the lumber. 48
96		-	SECTION 1.(d) The Residential Code Council and Building Code Council shall 49
97		-	adopt temporary rules to implement the requirements of this section no later than 180 days after 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98		-	House Bill 184-First Edition Page 3
99		-	the effective date of this section. The Residential Code Council and Building Code Council shall 1
100		-	also adopt permanent rules to replace the temporary rules. 2
101		-	SECTION 2.(a) Article 9 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by 3
102		-	adding a new section to read: 4
103		-	"§ 143-138.2. Lumber grading training program. 5
104		-	(a) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall establish a basic lumber 6
105		-	grading training program for individuals and establish the general requirements for successfully 7
106		-	completing the training program, including requirements for initial certification and for 8
107		-	recertification. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall offer the training 9
108		-	program at least annually. The Extension Forestry staff, in cooperation with the staff of the North 10
109		-	Carolina Forest Service, shall develop and establish the content of the training program, 11
110		-	determine the certification requirements for instructors teaching the training program, and 12
111		-	determine the criteria for determining successful completion of the training program. Instructors 13
112		-	shall be approved by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. 14
113		-	(b) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service may, in its discretion, authorize 15
114		-	one or more private lumber grading training programs, provided that the content of the private 16
115		-	programs and certification requirements for instructors and criteria for successful completion of 17
116		-	the training program are at least as stringent as the program offered by the North Carolina 18
117		-	Cooperative Extension Service. An authorized private training program may issue initial 19
118		-	certifications and recertifications. 20
119		-	(c) An individual holding an initial certification from the program established by 21
120		-	subsection (a) of this section, from a private program authorized under subsection (b) of this 22
121		-	section, or from a state-approved lumber grading program in another state who mills lumber in 23
122		-	the State shall be recertified under the training program every five years. 24
123		-	(d) An individual who holds an initial certification from the program established by 25
124		-	subsection (a) of this section, from a private program authorized under subsection (b) of this 26
125		-	section, or from a state-approved lumber grading program in another state shall register with the 27
126		-	North Carolina Forest Service before selling lumber that has not been grade-stamped under the 28
127		-	authority of a lumber grading bureau directly to the owner of a structure for use in construction 29
128		-	of the structure." 30
129		-	SECTION 2.(b) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall establish 31
130		-	the basic lumber grading training program no later than 180 days after the effective date of this 32
131		-	section. 33
132		-	SECTION 3. G.S. 160D-1110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 34
133		-	"(b1) For a structure constructed with lumber that has not been grade-stamped under the 35
134		-	authority of a lumber grading bureau, a building permit applicant shall submit with the building 36
135		-	permit application all of the following: 37
136		-	(1) A statement of the species of wood, quantity, and address where the lumber 38
137		-	will be used. 39
138		-	(2) The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 who 40
139		-	milled the lumber. 41
140		-	(3) A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of the North 42
141		-	Carolina State Building Code with the exception that it has not been 43
142		-	grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 44
143		-	(4) The date of sale of the lumber." 45
144		-	SECTION 4. Section 1 of this act is effective when it becomes law and expires when 46
145		-	the Residential Code Council and Building Code Council have issued permanent rules 47
146		-	substantially similar to Sections 1(b) and 1(c) of this act and notifies the Codifier of Statutes that 48
147		-	it has done so. Section 3 of this act becomes effective on the date that the temporary rules required 49
148		-	to be adopted by the Residential Code Council and Building Code Council by Section 1 of this 50
149		-	act become effective. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. 51
	45	+	dimension lumber rather than grade-stamped lumber. 33
	46	+	(5) The sawmill provides to the purchaser a certificate containing all of the 34
	47	+	following information: 35
	48	+	H.B. 184
	49	+	Feb 24, 2025
	50	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	51	+	Page 2 DRH10055-NN-21
	52	+	a. A statement of the species of wood, quantity milled, and address where 1
	53	+	the lumber will be used. 2
	54	+	b. The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 3
	55	+	who milled the lumber. 4
	56	+	c. A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of 5
	57	+	the North Carolina Residential Code with the exception that it has not 6
	58	+	been grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 7
	59	+	d. The date of sale of the lumber. 8
	60	+	SECTION 1.(c) The North Carolina Residential Code Council shall amend the North 9
	61	+	Carolina Residential Code and the North Carolina Building Code Council shall amend the North 10
	62	+	Carolina Building Code in order to permit dimension lumber that has not been grade-stamped 11
	63	+	under the authority of a lumber grading bureau to be used in the construction of one- and 12
	64	+	two-family dwellings and structures classified as Residential Group R-2 or R-3, when that use 13
	65	+	meets all of the following requirements: 14
	66	+	(1) The lumber is sold directly by the owner or employee of a small mill or a 15
	67	+	mobile sawmill that milled the lumber to the owner of the structure to be 16
	68	+	constructed or that person's authorized representative. 17
	69	+	(2) The dimension lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of the North 18
	70	+	Carolina Residential Code or the North Carolina Building Code, as applicable, 19
	71	+	other than the requirements that only grade-stamped lumber be used in 20
	72	+	residential construction. 21
	73	+	(3) The operator of the small mill or mobile sawmill has a certificate from a 22
	74	+	state-approved lumber grading training program, certifies that the lumber 23
	75	+	conforms with product and inspection standards under American Softwood 24
	76	+	Lumber Standard PS20, and marks the lumber with (i) the mill number, name, 25
	77	+	or abbreviation, (ii) the species or combination of species of the lumber, (iii) 26
	78	+	whether the lumber was dry or green when manufactured as required by 27
	79	+	American Softwood Lumber Standard PS20, and (iv) whether the lumber 28
	80	+	conforms with PS20 standards. 29
	81	+	(4) The appropriate code enforcement official reviews the framing of the structure 30
	82	+	to ensure that it meets the requirements of the North Carolina Residential 31
	83	+	Code or the North Carolina Building Code, as applicable, in all respects other 32
	84	+	than the requirements that only grade-stamped lumber be used in residential 33
	85	+	construction. The code enforcement official shall not be liable for any 34
	86	+	structural failure that occurs as a result of the use of dimension lumber rather 35
	87	+	than grade-stamped lumber. 36
	88	+	(5) The small mill or mobile sawmill provides to the purchaser a certificate 37
	89	+	containing all of the following: 38
	90	+	a. A statement of the species of wood, quantity milled, and address where 39
	91	+	the lumber will be used. 40
	92	+	b. The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 41
	93	+	who milled the lumber. 42
	94	+	c. A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of 43
	95	+	the North Carolina State Building Code with the exception that it has 44
	96	+	not been grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 45
	97	+	d. The date of sale of the lumber. 46
	98	+	SECTION 1.(d) The Residential Code Council and Building Code Council shall 47
	99	+	adopt temporary rules to implement the requirements of this section no later than 180 days after 48
	100	+	the effective date of this section. The Residential Code Council and Building Code Council shall 49
	101	+	also adopt permanent rules to replace the temporary rules. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	102	+	DRH10055-NN-21 Page 3
	103	+	SECTION 2.(a) Article 9 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by 1
	104	+	adding a new section to read: 2
	105	+	"§ 143-138.2. Lumber grading training program. 3
	106	+	(a) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall establish a basic lumber 4
	107	+	grading training program for individuals and establish the general requirements for successfully 5
	108	+	completing the training program, including requirements for initial certification and for 6
	109	+	recertification. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall offer the training 7
	110	+	program at least annually. The Extension Forestry staff, in cooperation with the staff of the North 8
	111	+	Carolina Forest Service, shall develop and establish the content of the training program, 9
	112	+	determine the certification requirements for instructors teaching the training program, and 10
	113	+	determine the criteria for determining successful completion of the training program. Instructors 11
	114	+	shall be approved by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. 12
	115	+	(b) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service may, in its discretion, authorize 13
	116	+	one or more private lumber grading training programs, provided that the content of the private 14
	117	+	programs and certification requirements for instructors and criteria for successful completion of 15
	118	+	the training program are at least as stringent as the program offered by the North Carolina 16
	119	+	Cooperative Extension Service. An authorized private training program may issue initial 17
	120	+	certifications and recertifications. 18
	121	+	(c) An individual holding an initial certification from the program established by 19
	122	+	subsection (a) of this section, from a private program authorized under subsection (b) of this 20
	123	+	section, or from a state-approved lumber grading program in another state who mills lumber in 21
	124	+	the State shall be recertified under the training program every five years. 22
	125	+	(d) An individual who holds an initial certification from the program established by 23
	126	+	subsection (a) of this section, from a private program authorized under subsection (b) of this 24
	127	+	section, or from a state-approved lumber grading program in another state shall register with the 25
	128	+	North Carolina Forest Service before selling lumber that has not been grade-stamped under the 26
	129	+	authority of a lumber grading bureau directly to the owner of a structure for use in construction 27
	130	+	of the structure." 28
	131	+	SECTION 2.(b) The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service shall establish 29
	132	+	the basic lumber grading training program no later than 180 days after the effective date of this 30
	133	+	section. 31
	134	+	SECTION 3. G.S. 160D-1110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 32
	135	+	"(b1) For a structure constructed with lumber that has not been grade-stamped under the 33
	136	+	authority of a lumber grading bureau, a building permit applicant shall submit with the building 34
	137	+	permit application all of the following: 35
	138	+	(1) A statement of the species of wood, quantity, and address where the lumber 36
	139	+	will be used. 37
	140	+	(2) The name of the sawmill operator certified pursuant to G.S. 143-138.2 who 38
	141	+	milled the lumber. 39
	142	+	(3) A certification that the lumber meets or exceeds the requirements of the North 40
	143	+	Carolina State Building Code with the exception that it has not been 41
	144	+	grade-stamped by an accredited lumber grading bureau. 42
	145	+	(4) The date of sale of the lumber." 43
	146	+	SECTION 4. Section 1 of this act is effective when it becomes law and expires when 44
	147	+	the Residential Code Council and Building Code Council have issued permanent rules 45
	148	+	substantially similar to Sections 1(b) and 1(c) of this act and notifies the Codifier of Statutes that 46
	149	+	it has done so. Section 3 of this act becomes effective on the date that the temporary rules required 47
	150	+	to be adopted by the Residential Code Council and Building Code Council by Section 1 of this 48
	151	+	act become effective. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. 49