HR824: HR824 The acute and ongoing threat to Georgia's forest posed by the southern pine beetle, and encouraging all Georgia landowners to follow guidance by the Georgia Forestry Commission to mitigate the spread of this destructive pest; commend

Georgia's forests are facing an outbreak of the southern pine beetle, a native pest that kills pine trees, raises wildfire risk, and can cause economic losses for landowners. The outbreak is described as especially severe in the western part of the state. This resolution does not create any new law, program, or funding. Instead, the House of Representatives formally recognizes the threat posed by the beetle and the ongoing outbreak in western Georgia, and encourages landowners statewide to follow best management practices recommended by the Georgia Forestry Commission, such as thinning overcrowded stands and removing infested trees. The resolution also directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of it to the public and the press.

• Formally recognizes the southern pine beetle as a significant and ongoing threat to Georgia's forests, particularly in the western region of the state.
• Encourages Georgia landowners to follow Georgia Forestry Commission guidance and best management practices to reduce the beetle's spread.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
• Does not create any new statute, funding, penalty, or agency requirement; it is a statement of the House's position.

Georgia landowners who manage pine forests, especially in the western region of the state, along with the Georgia Forestry Commission, whose existing guidance the resolution highlights and encourages landowners to follow.

While the resolution carries no legal force, it puts the House's attention on a pest outbreak that can kill pine trees, raise wildfire risk, and hurt landowners' income, and it publicly points landowners toward existing state guidance for managing the problem.

• The preamble (whereas clauses) states forestry contributes more than $41 billion annually to Georgia's economy and supports rural jobs.
• The resolution identifies the southern pine beetle (dendroctonus frontalis) as a native pest causing tree mortality and describes a heightened outbreak in western Georgia.
• Resolution clause (1) has the House recognize the significant threat the beetle poses to Georgia's forests.
• Resolution clause (2) has the House recognize the acute outbreak specifically in western Georgia.
• Resolution clause (3) encourages landowners to mitigate the outbreak through proper forest management and Georgia Forestry Commission best practices.
• A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-27House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Vance Smith (R, HD-138)Primary sponsor
• Lynn Smith (R, HD-070)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• David Huddleston (R, HD-072)

• forestry
• southern pine beetle
• land management
• rural economy
• Georgia Forestry Commission