April 28, 2025 • View in browser

NLBMDA Weekly is our newsletter covering everything from goings on in Washington to updates from our members. This is the premier source of federal legislative, regulatory, and industry news for NLBMDA members.

Fix Our Forests Act Receives Bipartisan Support in Senate

Sens. John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced a Senate companion bill for the Fix our Forests Act, NLBMDA supported legislation which passed in the House of Representatives in January. The Fix Our Forests Act would establish new and update existing federal programs to reduce wildfire risk across high-risk regions. The bill emphasizes cross-jurisdictional collaboration to ensure proactive forest management and the efficient use of local, state, and federal resources.



Earlier this month, NLBMDA members traveled to Washington to advocate for passage of the bill. NLBMDA has proactively been following up with Senate offices which ultimately led to the introduction of a Senate companion bill, a key step towards full passage. “Better stewarding our forests is something we can all agree on, regardless of party, because it helps secure a stronger economy, more resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities,” said Senate cosponsor Sen. Sheehy. “As demonstrated by Fix Our Forests Senate introduction, grassroots advocacy is an essential tool to advance legislation in Washington and underscores the importance of NLBMDA’s yearly legislative conference,” said NLBMDA’s Government Affairs Coordinator Matthew Delaney. NLBMDA will remain actively involved in pushing for full passage of the legislation. 

Congressional Leaders Target Late May Deadline to Pass Reconciliation Bill

Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) is moving forward with an ambitious timeline to send a comprehensive reconciliation package to President Trump’s desk prior to the Memorial Day holiday. Prior to entering April Recess, the House and Senate passed a joint budget resolution unlocking the process for lawmakers to begin substantially drafting a reconciliation bill that will include an increase to the debt ceiling, the extension and creation of tax provisions, and funding for the border and national security. Senate lawmakers are expected to use a technical maneuver known as the “current policy” baseline to extend 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax provisions. If used, TCJA tax provisions would be able to be extended without being negatively scored as lost federal revenue. The measure would grant lawmakers greater flexibility to enact new tax provisions that the White House has supported including no tax on tips and a full repeal of the estate tax. Using the “current policy” baseline strategy may also allow key provisions of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) to be worked into the reconciliation bill. NLBMDA and its coalition partners will continue to actively explore the reconciliation process as a potential legislative vehicle to pass AHCIA and other NLBMDA priority bills.  

This week, the Commerce Department is anticipated to reveal it’s “X Date”, the date the federal government will reach its borrowing limit and default on its debt absent Congressional action. Earlier this year the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released it’s “X Date” estimating the government’s ability to borrow will likely be exhausted by late summer 2025. An earlier “X Date” from the Commerce Department will put added pressure on lawmakers to advance their reconciliation package more quickly. 

Register for the ProDealer Industry Summit Today!

The ProDealer Industry Summit is an opportunity to drive your business forward! This premier industry event is an exclusive, live educational forum designed to promote the growth of lumber & building product dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and the manufacturers who supply them. Register now for your chance to:

• network with peers and industry leaders
• gain insights from LBM experts
• exchange ideas and collaborate with like-minded colleagues
• expand your professional connections

Register now to receive an early bird discount!

Florida Building Material Alliance to Host 2025 Building Products Expo

Decline in Mortgage Rates Helps to Increase New Home Sales in March

New home sales in March saw a notable increase due to a modest decline in mortgage rates and a tight supply of existing homes. Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 7.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 724,000 units, up 6.0% from a year ago, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Experts from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) noted that despite ongoing market uncertainties, lower mortgage rates—falling from 6.84% in February to 6.65% in March—helped improve affordability and boost demand. Builders emphasized that greater economic stability would further enhance sales prospects.



Inventory of new single-family homes rose to 503,000 units in March, offering an 8.3 months' supply, which remains balanced given the limited resale inventory. The number of completed homes ready for occupancy increased significantly, up 34% from a year earlier. The median sales price of new homes dropped 7.5% to $403,600, with particularly strong growth in sales of lower-priced homes. Regionally, the South experienced a 12.9% gain in new home sales year-to-date, while the Northeast, Midwest, and West saw declines of 32%, 18.3%, and 6%, respectively.

Housing Market Cautiously Looking Up, According to February 2025 Virginia Tech–USDA Forest Service Housing Commentary 

The February 2025 Virginia Tech–USDA Forest Service Housing Commentary reports a mixed but cautiously optimistic picture for the U.S. housing market. Month-over-month, key indicators such as total housing starts, single- and multi-family starts, new and existing home sales, and construction spending showed positive trends. However, year-over-year comparisons were mostly negative, reflecting the lingering impacts of high mortgage rates and affordability challenges. The report notes that the current housing market is still grappling with the "lock-in" effect, where homeowners are reluctant to sell due to low existing mortgage rates, leading to historically low existing-home sales relative to the number of U.S. households. Despite these hurdles, modest gains in new home sales and construction activity, supported by slightly lower mortgage rates, offer signs of resilience.



In terms of regional and sector-specific insights, new home sales rose year-over-year nationally, particularly in the South, while the Northeast, Midwest, and West experienced declines. New single-family construction remains below long-term population-adjusted averages, suggesting underbuilding relative to demographic needs. Construction spending for new homes and remodeling projects has been stable to slightly positive, even after adjusting for inflation. Additionally, remodeling activity showed steady growth, supported by increased retail sales at building material suppliers. Overall, the report underscores ongoing affordability issues but points to potential improvement as economic conditions stabilize and demographic pressures drive long-term demand for housing.

White House Reports Trade Negotiations Underway with China as Trade War Prolongs

For nearly four weeks the United States has continued to maintain a 145% tariff on nearly all Chinese imports. The elevated duties are by far the highest levied against any trading partner. Since April 12^th, China has responded with a 125% counter tariff on all U.S. goods exported to China which has uniquely impacted key sectors including U.S. soybean farmers who import nearly half of their crop to Chinese trading partners. Last week, Chinese officials quietly rolled back retaliatory tariffs on certain product lines, including U.S. made semiconductors and microchips. In the last few days, the White House has repeatedly stated that it has been in talks with Beijing counterparts to carve out a deal, a claim that Chinese officials have denied stating that negotiations will not begin until the United States pauses its blanket tariff on Chinese imports. Meanwhile, the White House is simultaneously negotiating with other trading blocs with updates on those negotiations anticipated later this week. 

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), No. 2 Senate Democrat and Credit Card Competition Act Sponsor, Not Seeking Reelection

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin announced last week that that he would not seek reelection in 2026, marking the end of a three-decade long career in the Senate. Durbin is currently serving his fifth Senate term and has served as Senate Whip, the second-highest position in Democratic Senate leadership, since 2005. Perhaps most notably, Durbin swam against the tide serving as lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act, NLBMDA supported legislation that would rein in excessive credit card swipe fees through through legislation requiring Visa and MasterCard to offer a secondary interchange for businesses to use, ultimately lowering swipe fees for LBM dealers. The legislation is still pending reintroduction in the 119^th Congress though Durbin’s retirement will likely allow him to expend more political capital to publicly support the bill with no more elections left to run. Senate Democrats have already begun backdoor efforts to garner support to run for the soon to be vacant No.2 Senate seat. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) is seen as a leading contender.  

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act Senate Introduction Expected Soon

Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are expected to imminently announce the introduction of a Senate companion bill for the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. Earlier this month, House lawmakers introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R. 2725). The legislation has already secured sponsorships from 30% of all House members following efforts by NLBMDA members earlier this month. NLBMDA is actively reconnecting with offices NLBMDA members met with to confirm support for the legislation once it is ultimately reintroduced.  An updated one-pager for AHCIA 2025 can be found here.  

U.S. House to Consider Five Congressional Review Act Resolutions This Week

This week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will bring five resolutions to the floor under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a law that allows Congress to overturn recently finalized federal agency rules with a simple majority vote. The CRA allows Congress to overturn regulations finalized in the final months of President Biden’s presidency. At the beginning of the 119^th Congress, Republican leaders announced their intent to use the CRA as a tool for removing Biden-era regulations promulgated during the Biden administration’s final months. Lawmakers have introduced 32 joint resolutions targeting a wide-variety of Biden-era rulemakings.



The CRA resolutions the House will consider this week target environmental and energy regulations, especially those involving California standards. H.J. Res. 87–89 would block California's efforts to require automakers to manufacture zero-emission trucks, ban gas-powered cars, and tighten nitrogen oxide emissions. 

OSHA Releases 2024 Workplace Injury and Illness Data

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published new 2024 injury and illness data collected through its Injury Tracking Application. Drawing from over 370,000 OSHA and partial data from more than 732,000 additional injury logs and incident reports, this release aims to help identify workplace hazards and prevent future injuries. OSHA is also reviewing the data to protect worker privacy before making even more information publicly available. The data can be found here. 

LMC Gives Back with Habitat for Humanity, Honoring 90th Anniversary

In celebration of the 90th anniversary, LMC partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Montgomery Counties for a day of service. On Thursday, April 24, ten LMC staff members volunteered at a residential building site in Pottstown, PA. to support the community.

From its humble beginnings with 35 lumberyards, LMC has grown into the nation's leading forest products and building materials buying group, with over 430 members and 1,800 locations across all 50 states. In 2025, LMC celebrates 90 years of strength through initiatives that honor its history, recognize members, and gives back.

Ring’s End raises a glass to meaningful connections

When you’ve been in business for over 120 years, you tend to learn a thing or two about keeping up with the times. Connecticut-based Ring’s End, founded in 1902, has been quite good about keeping current—and perhaps a bit better than most in terms of creating meaningful, creative connections with its customers.

R.P. Lumber acquires Aldrich Home Center

R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. has acquired Aldrich Home Center in Powell, Wyoming, with the deal set to close on April 11, 2025. Located at 115 E. Park St., Aldrich Home Center is a family-owned hardware store and lumberyard that has been an integral part of the Powell community for decades. This will be the Midwestern chain’s third location in the Equality State and first in Park County. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HBSDealer Seeks Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply Nominations

Some light the way. Some break through. The Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply do both. This year, we recognize the fearless trailblazers who are shining as leaders and shattering expectations, driving the industry toward a brighter, bolder future. The Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply program applauds and recognizes women for their exceptional contributions to both their companies and communities. Submit your nomination below and help us celebrate the exceptional women who are shaping and changing this industry!

The 121st Annual Federated Insurance Policyholders Meeting Marks Record-Setting Year

Federated Mutual Insurance Company hosted its 121st Annual Meeting of Policyholders on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Owatonna, Minnesota. Newly elected Federated Insurance Chairman, President and CEO Nicholas Lower presided over the meeting for the first time and began by thanking the company’s more than 47,000 policyholders. “Our business owner clients, the very backbone of our economy, create jobs and employ hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens. We exist to enhance their success and, in doing so, play a key role in helping them serve the communities in our great nation,” he said. “We are grateful to have earned their trust, and it is an honor to fulfill our promise to these fine organizations.”