What You Need to Know:
- NRLA-NY advocacy saved New York’s lumber and building materials industry more than $100 million in 2025 by stopping costly mandates, reducing payroll taxes, eliminating legal exposure, and protecting dealer operations.
- Three actions drove a significant share of the savings: permanently repealing the forced transition to all-electric trucks, blocking a mandate to require air conditioning in all LBM warehouses, and securing unemployment insurance payroll tax reform.
- NRLA secured and administered a state-funded grant that delivered a free, full-day OSHA safety training to 50 member companies, improving workplace safety while eliminating training and compliance costs for participating dealers.
In 2025, the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association of New York (NRLA-NY) had a banner year for legislative advocacy, delivering meaningful, measurable results that protect independent lumber and building material (LBM) businesses from rising costs, unworkable mandates, and regulatory overreach.
Taken together, these legislative wins saved New York’s LBM industry more than $100 million in 2025 by avoiding new compliance costs, reducing payroll tax burdens, and eliminating legal liability that threatened independent dealers. These outcomes represent real, bottom-line savings—protecting capital that can instead be reinvested in employees, equipment, facilities, and long-term growth.
Three outcomes alone accounted for a significant share of these savings. NRLA-NY blocked the TEMP Act, preventing a one-size-fits-all mandate that would have forced costly climate control upgrades in warehouses across the state. The Association also secured meaningful unemployment insurance payroll tax reform, delivering $350 per employee per year in savings beginning in October 2025. In addition, NRLA-NY obtained state-funded OSHA safety grants that provided free, high-quality safety training to dealers improving workplace safety while eliminating training and compliance costs for participating businesses.
These headline wins were part of a broader, comprehensive advocacy effort that addressed regulatory risk, labor costs, safety compliance, housing affordability, workforce development, and energy reliability. A complete summary of NRLA-NY’s 2025 legislative achievements is detailed in an accompanying memorandum.
Our success was driven by NRLA-NY members themselves working through the Association’s Legislative Committee under the leadership of Dana Schnipper of JC Ryan EBCO/H&G, LLC on Long Island, in close coordination with NRLA’s government affairs team and dedicated lobbyist Todd Vandervort. Together, they advanced practical policy solutions that strengthen dealer profitability today while positioning the industry for long-term success in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
“This year showed what’s possible when engaged members stay at the table and focus on real-world outcomes,” said Dana Schnipper, Legislative Chair of NRLA-NY. “Our committee put in serious time, and 2025 was truly a banner year for advocacy. These wins directly protect our businesses, our employees, and the customers we serve.”
“NRLA’s advocacy program is delivering real results because it is rooted in member leadership and sustained engagement,” said Genn Howley, Chair of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association and Owner of GNH Lumber. “As we look ahead, my role is to keep that legislative focus sharp and ensure we continue to move the needle on issues that matter most to our members.”
“I’m incredibly proud of what NRLA members accomplished during my time as Chair,” said Doug Ford, Immediate Past Chair of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association and Vice President of Curtis Lumber. “This association gives dealers a seat at the table to raise issues, drive priorities, and shape solutions that directly affect their businesses.”
“NRLA’s government affairs program continues to deliver meaningful change for the industry,” said Rita Ferris, President of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association. “These results translate into savings, flexibility, and long-term stability for independent dealers across New York. This is exactly what member-driven advocacy is supposed to do.”
“Our members are the driving force behind NRLA’s advocacy,” said Francis Palasieski, Director of Government Affairs for the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association. “When their leadership and real-world experience are combined with professional lobbying, coordinated communications, and strategic support from NAIL PAC, we’re able to deliver policy wins that directly protect LBM businesses.”
NRLA-NY Legislative Committee – 2025
The NRLA-NY Legislative Committee is composed of volunteer leaders from across the lumber and building materials industry who generously contribute their time and expertise to advance the interests of independent dealers:
- Mike Alter — U.S. Lumber & Supply Corp.
- Seth Arluck — New Hampton Lumber Co., Inc.
- Chris Curtis — Curtis Lumber Co., Inc.
- Mark DeWitt — Baker-Miller Lumber Inc.
- Michael Duval — Huber Engineered Woods, LLC
- Louise Eddy — Saratoga Quality Hardware and Lumber
- Doug Ford — Curtis Lumber Co., Inc.
- Jon Hallgren — Curtis Lumber Co., Inc.
- Genn Howley — GNH Lumber, Inc.
- Jonas Kelly — JAY-K Independent Lumber Corp.
- Michael Kelly — Garden State Lumber
- Dan Klips — Stockham Lumber
- Vic Milano — Jilco Window Corp.
- Tom Molloy — LBM Advantage
- Eric Raynor — Riverhead Building Supply Corp.
- Dana F. Schnipper — JC Ryan EBCO/H&G, LLC (Chair)
- Ryan Sparta — LBM Advantage
- Lance Wagner — Glendale Lumber Company Inc.
- Bradford White — White’s Lumber, Inc.
- James Willerton — Belknap Lumber Inc.
- Lisa Yorks — Curtis Lumber Co., Inc.
- Dan Fisk — Parksite
About the NRLA
The NRLA is a 1,100-member association representing independent lumber and building material suppliers and associated businesses in New York, New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic, and six New England states. Throughout our 130-year history, NRLA has provided leadership, support, and community for lumber and building material dealers throughout the Northeastern United States. NRLA is an industry leader in education, legislative and regulatory reform, and member programs and services. We also produce the industry’s largest regional trade show, LBM Expo. For more information, go to nrla.org.
