Dozens of U.S. colleges and universities could soon offer dedicated mass timber science and education programs tailored for architects, engineers, and developers—thanks to new legislation introduced in Congress. The Forest Bioeconomy Act, which has bipartisan support, aims to expand forest product research and create new market opportunities. It proposes the establishment of an Office of Technology Transfer within the U.S. Forest Service and allocates $5 million in funding to support the initiative.
Introduced by Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and co-sponsored by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jim Justice (R-WV), and Steve Daines (R-MT), the bill builds on recent momentum following the SAWMILL Act, backed by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT). “Georgia’s forestry industry is vital to our state’s economy, and I’m proud to work with my colleagues to find a bipartisan solution to invest in the future success of this sector,” said Warnock, who introduced the bill to the US Senate.
Meanwhile, Heinrich emphasised the need for improved forest management: “To protect our communities from increasingly catastrophic wildfires, we need to make forest management more effective and scalable. By expanding technology transfer at the Forest Service and turning small-diameter trees into marketable wood products, we can create new revenue streams, scale up fuels reduction, and accelerate the work needed to reduce wildfire risk.”
Justice highlighted the importance of wise forest stewardship in West Virginia: “We know the value of our forests and the importance of managing them wisely—not just for the beauty and recreation they offer, but also for the jobs and strengthening our economy. This bipartisan bill supports our rural economies, protects our communities from wildfires, and makes the most of what our land gives us. It’s a win for the economy, environment, and for our people.” Whilst Daines added: “Given that 70% of Montana’s forests are federally owned, we need to do all we can to ensure we’re good stewards of the land. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill that will support proper forest management and create new markets for low-value woody biomass.”
Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act Targets All Gov Buildings
In April, Wood Central reported that thousands of public buildings across the U.S.—including schools, colleges, office blocks, and military installations—could be constructed using innovative wood products under the proposed Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act 2025. The bill, which has already been read a second time before Congress, aims to incentivise the use of mass timber in federal building contracts. It follows an executive order issued by President Trump to “free up forests for timber production.”
Introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and James Risch (R-ID), and co-sponsored by Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), the legislation is the latest push to promote an industry expected to grow 25 to 40-fold over the next 30 years. The Act would prioritise locally grown and manufactured timber over imports—which are currently 10–15% cheaper than U.S.-made equivalents—by removing procurement and regulatory barriers to market adoption. “This will give mass timber companies the ability to compete for federal construction, renovation, or acquisition of public buildings and military construction,” according to a statement supporting the bill.
- To learn more about the Forest Bioeconomy Act and its implications for the supply chain of bio-based materials in the United States, click here for an expert analysis of the new bill.
