Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1148: Income tax; donation of real property for conservation purposes; revise tax credits
Last action March 6, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
House Bill 1148 would increase Georgia's income tax credit for donating land or conservation easements, raise the yearly cap on those credits back to $30 million, and shift review of land appraisals from the State Properties Commission to the Department of Natural Resources.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia currently lets landowners claim an income tax credit for donating real property or conservation easements for conservation purposes, but the program's yearly cap dropped to $4 million after 2021 and is set to stop taking new applications after 2026. This bill raises the per-donation credit cap from $500,000 to $1 million and from 25 percent to 50 percent of the property's fair market value, and raises the yearly per-taxpayer caps from $250,000 to $500,000 (for individual filers) and $500,000 to $1 million (for corporate filers). The bill also restores the statewide cap on total credits to $30 million per year for 2026 through 2031, and pushes the deadline for new applications from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2031. It eliminates the State Properties Commission's role in reviewing donation appraisals, giving that job to the Department of Natural Resources, and repeals the specific monetary penalty for appraisers who submit inflated valuations, instead directing the Department of Natural Resources to refer such appraisers to the Georgia Real Estate Commission for possible discipline. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
What the bill does
- Raises the maximum tax credit per conservation donation from $500,000 to $1 million and from 25 percent to 50 percent of the property's fair market value.
- Raises the annual per-taxpayer credit caps from $250,000 to $500,000 for individual income tax filers and from $500,000 to $1 million for corporate filers.
- Restores the total statewide cap on these tax credits to $30 million per year for 2026 through 2031, up from the $4 million yearly cap that applied through 2026.
- Extends the deadline for new applications for this tax credit from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2031.
- Removes the State Properties Commission from the appraisal review process and gives the Department of Natural Resources authority to review appraisals for inflated valuations.
- Repeals the specific dollar penalty for appraisers who submit inflated valuations and instead has the Department of Natural Resources refer them to the Georgia Real Estate Commission for possible discipline.
Who it affects
Landowners who donate real property or conservation easements to the state, local governments, the federal government, or accredited land trusts for conservation purposes; appraisers who value donated conservation land; the Department of Natural Resources, which takes over appraisal review; and the State Properties Commission, whose role in this program is eliminated.
Why it matters
Landowners considering a conservation donation could receive a substantially larger tax credit and more years to apply, while the state's total yearly cost for these credits could rise back to $30 million. Appraisers who overvalue donated land would now face professional licensing referral rather than a specific financial penalty.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.12 to raise the per-donation credit limit from the lesser of $500,000 or 25 percent of fair market value to the lesser of $1 million or 50 percent of fair market value.
- Raises the annual per-taxpayer caps under subsection (f) from $250,000 to $500,000 (individual tax liability) and from $500,000 to $1 million (corporate tax liability), with unused credit still carrying forward up to five years.
- Extends the aggregate statewide credit cap of $30 million per year to the period June 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031, and moves the application cutoff date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2031.
- Removes references to the State Properties Commission throughout the code section, shifting appraisal review and rulemaking authority to the Department of Natural Resources and the Board of Natural Resources.
- Repeals the detailed penalty formula for appraisers who submit substantially misstated valuations, replacing it with a requirement that the Department of Natural Resources report such appraisers to the Georgia Real Estate Commission for investigation and possible discipline.
- Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without the Governor's signature.
From the bill
“If the Department of Natural Resources determines that an appraisal contains a substantial valuation misstatement, the Department of Natural Resources shall report the appraiser who prepared the appraisal to the Georgia Real Estate Commission for investigation and, if warranted, disciplinary action”
“the aggregate amount of tax credits allowed under this Code section shall not exceed $30 million per calendar year”
Discussed in meetings (10)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Ways & Means Committee, February 23, 2026
From 0:26:11 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1148 would extend the conservation tax credit through 2031, increase the credit from 25% to 50% of qualifying land value, cap credits at $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for partnerships, and set a $30 million annual total. The sponsor said Georgia develops 50,000 to 60,000 acres annually and that the credit encourages permanent conservation of a small portion. The substitute would put application review entirely with the Department of Natural Resources and add appraisal investigations and discipline through the Georgia Real Estate Commission. Asked whether owners could later withdraw, the sponsor said the restrictions are permanent. Asked about appraisal oversight, the sponsor described independent review of disputed values and possible disciplinary action. The sponsor emphasized that owners retain ongoing management costs while giving up development rights. The subcommittee unanimously approved the substitute.
House Ways & Means Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:21:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would extend the conservation tax credit through 2031, limit credits to 50% of the fair market value of land placed under permanent conservation restrictions, and cap credits at $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for partnerships. The sponsor said the annual statewide limit would be $30 million. To streamline applications, the sponsor said the proposal would remove the State Properties Commission from the process, place applications with the Department of Natural Resources and allow that department to use the Georgia Real Estate Commission for appraisal investigations and disciplinary actions. The sponsor described the credit as a way to preserve land while keeping it privately managed. No members asked questions. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no count stated.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 1:07:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1882
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1148 would extend the conservation tax credit through December 31, 2031, set the annual total at $30 million, streamline applications through the Department of Natural Resources and allow the Georgia Real Estate Commission to independently review permanent-easement appraisals. The sponsor said the credit was otherwise due to expire this year. No questions or decision followed.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 1)
From 2:37:19 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1903
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would extend the conservation donation tax credit through December 31, 2031, with maximum credits of $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for partnerships. The sponsor said it would restore the annual statewide limit to $30 million, streamline Department of Natural Resources applications, and allow the Georgia Real Estate Commission to independently review appraisals for permanent conservation easements. Supporting the measure, the sponsor cited approximately $40 million in annual hunting and fishing license revenue and a $12 billion economic impact, arguing that conservation protects habitat. No questions were asked. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 163-0. One member requested to be excused.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 0:36:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1882
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee added HB 1148 to the day's supplemental calendar under structured rules without stated opposition. No provisions were discussed.
Senate Finance Committee, March 25, 2026
From 0:55:33 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would renew conservation tax credits through December 31, 2031, to protect land permanently from development, with credit limits of $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for partnerships. The chair said the committee substitute set the total credit cap at $10 million. Members questioned inflated appraisals, fraud, local tax revenue and IRS audit risks. A Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy witness said federal legislation and accredited-land-trust requirements addressed abusive transactions, but supplied no audit statistics. The witness said appraisals use the highest and best use consistent with current zoning. One member opposed valuing farmland based on potential development. The sponsor said existing conservation-use property-tax treatment would remain unchanged. The witness said farming and forestry could continue, but development restrictions would survive sales, inheritance and bankruptcy. Questions about foreign-controlled land trusts and soccer-field eligibility were not fully resolved. A Department of Natural Resources witness took no position and said administering the program would require additional staff and contracted appraisal services, with questionable appraisals referred to the Georgia Real Estate Commission. The chair postponed a vote, citing departing members and unresolved questions.
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11), 0:29:43
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 4, 2026 (legislative day 12), 0:30:57
- Read aloud: House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, AM), 0:55:16
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:39:34
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Chas Cannon (R, HD-172)
- Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
- John Corbett (R, HD-174)
- Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
- Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)
- Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2026
163 yea, 3 nay (5 not voting, 6 excused)
Topics
- conservation tax credits
- land donations
- property conservation
- income tax law
- Department of Natural Resources