NRLA–MRLDA Government Affairs Program Delivers Million Dollar Savings for Massachusetts Lumber Dealers

Northeastern Retail Lumber Association
January 30, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: US East

Boston, MA — The Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA), working closely with the Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association (MRLDA), continues to deliver measurable, bottom-line results for independent and family-owned lumber and building material dealers across the Commonwealth by stopping costly mandates, advancing workforce development, and addressing rising operating expenses. What You Should Know

  • Forced Transition to All-Electric Trucks Stopped: Repealing the mandate saved the average independent Massachusetts lumber dealer an estimated $1.1–$1.6 million in avoided truck replacement and on-site charging infrastructure costs, while keeping vehicle and equipment investments local.
  • Credit Card Fees Under Review: study and recommend reforms to credit card swipe fees.
  • Workforce Development Barriers Being Removed: Studying multilingual forklift certification testing, expanding opportunity for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking workers and helping dealers upskill their workforce.
  • Housing Affordability Preserved: Additional mandates on new home construction… helping keep housing affordable for Massachusetts families.

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