Bill · S. 2804· Senate(119-S-2804)
Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/15/2025
- Last activity
- 9/15/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Sponsored by
- Pete Ricketts
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025," establishes new requirements for the Secretary of the Interior when plants are detained due to suspected Lacey Act violations. It mandates that the Secretary must either release the plants or issue a formal notice of detention within five days of being presented with them. The Act requires the notice to include specific reasons for detention, the expected length of the detention, and the nature of any planned tests. It also outlines procedures for how importers can transport plants for storage and how they may protest final determinations. Finally, the bill sets a thirty-day deadline for the Secretary to make a final determination regarding the admissibility of the plants.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill mandates that the Secretary provide specific reasons for detention, expected durations, and testing details to importers.
Would business owners be better off under this?+4
Importers benefit from increased predictability, clear notice requirements, and options for alternative storage of detained goods.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+3
The bill provides more transparency and faster decision-making timelines for importers of wood products.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-2
The bill creates a penalty of exclusion for the Secretary if they fail to make a timely determination, which may incentivize faster, less thorough reviews of potentially illegal plant imports.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?-1
By streamlining plant detention processes, the bill may slightly reduce the regulatory friction intended to prevent illegal wood trade.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency for Importers: The Secretary is required to provide specific reasons for detention, the anticipated length of time the plants will be held, and the nature of any tests being conducted (Section 3(b)). This gives importers clearer information regarding why their goods are being held.
-
Ability to Accelerate Disposition: The bill requires the notice of detention to include information that, if provided, would help speed up the process of resolving the detention (Section 3(b)).
-
Access to Testing Data: If the Secretary conducts tests for official purposes, they must provide the results, sufficient information to allow the importer to replicate the test, and any relevant documentation (Section 3(c)).
-
Options for Alternative Storage: Importers have the option to request that plants be moved to a location outside of U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody for storage, provided certain conditions like paying fees and providing a bond are met (Section 3(d)).
-
Right to Protest Decisions: Importers are granted the right to submit a protest if the Secretary decides to exclude a plant, and they may also petition a court of competent jurisdiction regarding detained or excluded plants (Section 3(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Risk of Exclusion Due to Secretary Inaction: If the Secretary fails to make a final determination within the required 30-day timeline, that failure is treated as a decision to exclude the plants from entry or demand their redelivery to customs custody (Section 3(e)).
-
Financial Burdens for Transporting Plants: To move plants for storage outside of customs control, importers must pay required demurrage and storage fees and provide a bond (Section 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3Improves Consumer Protection-1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections-2
- 9/15/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi