Georgia CommonsSB 59: Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; a limitation on leased property; remove
Last action May 12, 2026 · Veto V9
A Georgia Senate bill would raise the cap on tax credits for timber growers who lost trees in Hurricane Helene from $200 million to $250 million and let more producers claim the credit without needing advance state approval starting in 2026.
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 Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia created a tax credit program to help timber producers who lost trees in Hurricane Helene, but the program capped total credits at $200 million and required growers to apply for preapproval from the state revenue commissioner before claiming the credit. This bill raises that aggregate cap to $250 million and changes how the credit is awarded going forward. Under the bill, preapproval is still required for applications submitted through the end of 2025, but starting January 1, 2026, taxpayers can claim the credit without getting preapproved first, as long as the state has not already given out the full $250 million. The commissioner must start taking these later applications by July 1, 2026 and respond within 45 days. Growers still must finish replanting or restoring their timberland before claiming the credit, and all credits must be claimed by December 31, 2030. The changes apply to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026 and take effect once the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.
What the bill does
- Raises the total statewide cap on Hurricane Helene timber casualty loss tax credits from $200 million to $250 million.
- Removes the preapproval requirement for tax credit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, letting growers claim credits directly up to the new cap.
- Requires the commissioner to begin accepting these post-2025 applications by July 1, 2026 and to notify each applicant within 45 days.
- Keeps the requirement that timber must be restored or replanted to specific standards before a taxpayer can actually claim the credit.
- Sets a final deadline of December 31, 2030 for claiming any of these credits.
Who it affects
Timber producers and landowners in Georgia whose eligible timberland was damaged by Hurricane Helene, especially those applying for state tax credits after 2025; also the Georgia Department of Revenue, which administers the preapproval and application process.
Why it matters
More timber growers could receive state tax relief for storm losses, and the higher $250 million cap means fewer applicants are likely to be prorated down due to limited funds. Growers applying after 2025 also skip the extra preapproval step, potentially speeding up when they can claim the credit.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-7-40.37(d)(4) and (e) to raise the aggregate credit cap from $200 million to $250 million.
- Section 1 revises subsection (c)(2) so preapproval is required only for applications submitted by December 31, 2025.
- New subsection (f)(1)(A)(ii) allows taxpayers to claim credits without a preapproval certificate starting January 1, 2026, in the order applications are received, up to the $250 million cap.
- The commissioner must begin accepting these applications no later than July 1, 2026 and respond to each taxpayer within 45 days of submission.
- Taxpayers must still complete restoration or replanting of damaged timberland, as described in subsection (f)(1)(B), before claiming the credit.
- All credits under this program must be claimed on or before December 31, 2030.
- Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's approval and applicable to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
From the bill
“On and after January 1, 2026, tax credits allowed pursuant to this Code section shall be eligible to be claimed by taxpayers without the issuance of a preapproval certificate up to the maximum aggregate provided for in subsection (e) of this Code section in order of receipt of applications by the commissioner”
Status timeline
- Veto V9
- Senate Date Vetoed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
Show full history (18 actions)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Engrossed (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
- Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
- Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
- Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)
Votes
- Senate voteFebruary 19, 2025
31 yea, 21 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)
- Senate voteFebruary 19, 2025
50 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 5 absent)
- House voteFebruary 26, 2026
154 yea, 3 nay (12 not voting, 8 absent)
- Senate voteMarch 12, 2026
49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)
Topics
- timber tax credits
- Hurricane Helene relief
- agriculture tax policy
- Georgia Department of Revenue