# New Mexico HB 553: TIMBER GRADING ACT

New Mexico HB 553, TIMBER GRADING ACT, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Harlan Vincent (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-07 (Signed by Governor - Chapter 49 - Apr. 7); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB553-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Mexico HB 553
- State: New Mexico
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: TIMBER GRADING ACT
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-20
- Last action: 2025-04-07, Signed by Governor - Chapter 49 - Apr. 7
- Sponsor: Harlan Vincent (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (82 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Sawmill graders face possible certificate fees: cost, low. New Mexico’s Forestry Division may charge up to $250 to issue a timber-grading certificate. This fee applies to sawmill owners and employees seeking the certificate. The law does not require a fee, so the Division can charge less or nothing.
- Sawmills gain grading rights and duties: mixed, low. New Mexico’s Forestry Division must offer a timber-grading certificate program for sawmill owners and employees. Those who complete it receive certificates that expire after five years. State grading and labeling rules must follow the American Lumber Standard Committee’s system. Certified graders m…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Harlan Vincent (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brian G. Baca (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Derrick J. Lente (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Doreen Y. Gallegos (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gail Armstrong (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jimmy G. Mason (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John Block (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Luis M. Terrazas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mark Duncan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Meredith A. Dixon (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nathan P. Small (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sarah Silva (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William A. Hall II (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-22 | Senate | Final Senate Vote | pass | 34 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Final House Vote | pass | 48 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2025-04-07: Signed by Governor - Chapter 49 - Apr. 7 (Senate)
- 2025-03-22: Passed in the Senate - Y:34 N:0 (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: STBTC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Sent to STBTC - Referrals: STBTC (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:48 N:0 (House)
- 2025-03-08: HAFC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s) (House)
- 2025-02-25: HENRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation (House)
- 2025-02-20: Sent to HENRC - Referrals: HENRC/HAFC (Senate)

## Bill text

- Final Version, 2025-04-08: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/final/HB0553.pdf)
- STBTC Committee Report 3/18/25, 2025-03-18: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553CT1.pdf)
- HAFC Committee Report 3/08/25, 2025-03-08: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553AF1.pdf)
- HENRC Committee Report 2/25/25, 2025-02-25: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553EN1.pdf)
- Introduced, 2025-02-20: [HTML](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553.html), [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 2: GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2025 (signed)
- SB 45: COUNTY HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE FUND USE (signed)
- SB 343: TEACHER SALARY RATES CHANGES (signed)
- SB 345: TEACHER & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LICENSURE (signed)
- SB 133: EDUCATIONAL RETIREES RETURNING TO WORK (signed)
- HB 157: NEW SCHOOL LICENSES (signed)

## Sources
- [Final Version (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/final/HB0553.pdf)
- [STBTC Committee Report 3/18/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553CT1.pdf)
- [HAFC Committee Report 3/08/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553AF1.pdf)
- [HENRC Committee Report 2/25/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553EN1.pdf)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553.html)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0553.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 2: GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB2-2025)
- [SB 45: COUNTY HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE FUND USE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB45-2025)
- [SB 343: TEACHER SALARY RATES CHANGES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB343-2025)
- [SB 345: TEACHER & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LICENSURE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB345-2025)
- [SB 133: EDUCATIONAL RETIREES RETURNING TO WORK](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB133-2025)
- [HB 157: NEW SCHOOL LICENSES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB157-2025)
- [New Mexico bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-mexico/bills)
- [New Mexico state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-mexico)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB553-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).