Establishes standards for the reuse of deconstructed building materials; requires the uniform building code to set standards for the use of solid-sawn lumber in construction and for the grading of used solid-sawn lumber; requires the secretary of state to develop a program for grading reclaimed wood for structural purposes.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2091
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing,
Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing standards
for the reuse of deconstructed building materials
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 377 of the execu-
2 tive law, as added by chapter 707 of the laws of 1981, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 c. permit to the fullest extent feasible, use of modern technical
5 methods, devices and improvements which tend to reduce the cost of
6 construction, including the reuse of deconstructed building materials,
7 without substantially affecting reasonable requirements for the health,
8 safety and security of the occupants or users of buildings;
9 § 2. Section 378 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
10 subdivision 19-a to read as follows:
11 19-a. a. To support the goal of zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions
12 and help achieve the state's clear energy and climate agenda, including
13 but not limited to greenhouse gas reduction requirements set forth with-
14 in chapter one hundred six of the laws of two thousand nineteen, also
15 known as the New York state climate leadership and community protection
16 act, the uniform code shall set standards for the use of solid-sawn
17 lumber in construction and for the grading of used solid-sawn lumber.
18 b. The uniform code shall provide that used solid-sawn lumber in good
19 condition and devoid of areas of decay not meeting the requirements of
20 sections 2303.1.1, 2303.1.1.1 or 2303.1.1.2 of the 2020 building code of
21 New York state shall comply with the following:
22 (i) dimensional lumber that has a nominal thickness of two inches with
23 a nominal width of six inches, or less, shall be assumed to be spruce-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00127-01-5
S. 2091 2
1 pine-fir stud grade and shall have structural properties assigned in
2 accordance with current adopted standards; and
3 (ii) all other dimensional lumber shall be assumed to be hem-fir No. 2
4 grade and shall have structural properties assigned in accordance with
5 current adopted standards.
6 § 3. Section 376 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
7 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
8 7. To develop a program for grading reclaimed wood for structural
9 purposes. The program shall be developed in consultation with industry
10 stakeholders and shall include standards for determining the structural
11 integrity of reclaimed wood. The program shall be updated as necessary
12 to reflect advances in technology and best practices.
13 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
