SB 59: Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; a limitation on leased property; remove

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Discussed in meetings (9)

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.

1. House Ways & Means Committee, February 18, 2026

   From 0:36:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter explained that the substitute would raise the Hurricane Helene reforestation tax-credit cap from $200 million to $250 million and reopen applications. The presenter said applications totaled $241 million under the earlier cap, requiring prorated awards, and that some affected farmers had missed the deadline while rebuilding homes and farms. Additional applications would be handled first come, first served. The vice chair proposed requiring acceptance of applications for remaining credits no later than July 31, 2026, and award notices within 45 days. A legislative drafter discussed how those deadlines would fit existing language covering applications received on or after January 1, 2026. A Department of Revenue representative supported using the term accepting applications. When another member asked whether applicants would have to wait until July, speakers clarified that earlier applications could receive awards earlier. The amendment also allowed non-substantive drafting changes. The committee approved the amendment and then the substitute as amended by separate voice votes, with no counts announced.

2. House Rules Committee, February 23, 2026

   From 0:52:31 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter described SB 59 as increasing the cap on hurricane-related timber tax credits from $200 million to $250 million. The presenter said applications totaled $240 million after the previous year's $200 million authorization. A committee member asked whether the proposal would also give hurricane victims more time to apply for unclaimed credits, and the presenter confirmed that description. No vote followed.

3. House floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25, PM)

   From 0:33:40 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1654

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a House substitute for SB 59 that would increase the $200 million cap on reforestation tax credits established through HB 223. The sponsor said applications exceeded $241 million and some eligible people missed the deadline. According to the sponsor, the substitute would fully cover original applicants and make remaining credits available on a first-come, first-served basis no later than June 30, 2026. The sponsor attributed missed applications to limited outreach in rural areas, insufficient information for accountants, and confusion over whether the program was administered by the state or the federal Farm Service Agency. No questions were asked. The House adopted the substitute without objection and passed the bill 154 to 3.

4. House Rules Committee, February 26, 2026

   From 0:31:28 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1654

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SB 59 on the day’s supplemental calendar under structured rules after a motion and second. No objection was heard when the chair asked. There was no discussion of the bill’s substance.

5. Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1)

   From 5:23:12 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A member gave notice of an intention to ask the Senate on the next legislative day to consider House action on SB 59. The clerk read its description concerning removal of a limitation on leased property receiving conservation-use tax treatment. The chair announced that action would be taken Monday. No decision on the House changes occurred in this transcript.

6. Senate floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29)

   From 1:48:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A senator gave notice of an intention to move on the next legislative day to consider House action on SB 59. The clerk read the bill's caption, describing removal of a limitation involving certain entities and property receiving preferential conservation-use or residential transitional assessments. The chair acknowledged the notice. No debate or vote on the House action occurred.

7. Senate floor session, March 10, 2026 (legislative day 30)

   From 4:40:43 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A senator gave notice of an intention to ask the Senate to consider House action on SB 59 on the next legislative day. The clerk read the caption, describing removal of a limitation on leased property involving certain entities under conservation-use property tax rules. The chair acknowledged the notice. No debate or vote on the House action occurred.

8. Senate floor session, March 12, 2026 (legislative day 31)

   From 3:17:20 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenting senator asked the Senate to agree to the House substitute to SB 59, replacing its conservation-use property provisions with changes to Hurricane Helene timber tax credits. The senator said the substitute would increase the credit cap from $200 million to $250 million after requests reached roughly $241 million to $243 million. Comparing storms, the senator said Helene affected 8.9 million acres, including 1.47 million severely damaged acres, versus 2.4 million affected and 296,000 severely damaged acres from Hurricane Michael. The senator said some older landowners had not learned of the program and that forestry officials must verify clearing and replanting. Another senator asked whether application language would let credits be sold or claimed by someone without preapproval, emphasizing that timber owners should receive the benefit. The presenter initially expressed uncertainty but later clarified that the language would prevent existing applicants from having to submit preapproval again. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 49 to 0.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20), 0:41:38

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