SR 480: Georgia Forests; acute and ongoing threat to Georgia's forests posed by the southern pine beetle; recognize

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it formally states the Senate's recognition that the southern pine beetle, a native pest, is causing significant damage to pine forests in Georgia, with a particularly severe outbreak currently affecting the western part of the state. The resolution notes forestry's economic importance to Georgia, citing more than $41 billion in annual economic activity and thousands of rural jobs, and describes the ecological and economic value of well managed forests. The Senate resolves to recognize the threat and the ongoing outbreak in western Georgia, and to encourage landowners to follow best management practices from the Georgia Forestry Commission, such as thinning overcrowded stands and removing infested trees, to control the pest's spread. The resolution also directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the public and press.

• Formally recognizes the southern pine beetle as a significant and ongoing threat to Georgia's forests.
• Specifically calls out an active outbreak of the pest in the western region of Georgia.
• Encourages, but does not require, Georgia landowners to follow Georgia Forestry Commission guidance such as thinning stands and removing infested trees.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and the press.

Georgia landowners with forested property, especially in the western part of the state, along with the forestry industry, rural communities that depend on forestry jobs, and the Georgia Forestry Commission, which provides the management guidance the resolution highlights.

While the resolution carries no legal requirements or funding, it signals state-level attention to a pest outbreak that can kill pine trees, raise wildfire risk, and cause economic losses for landowners, potentially encouraging wider voluntary adoption of forest management practices.

• The preamble cites forestry's contribution of more than $41 billion annually to Georgia's economy and its role in rural jobs.
• The preamble identifies the southern pine beetle (dendroctonus frontalis) as a native pest causing tree mortality and increased wildfire risk.
• Resolution clause (1) recognizes the general threat the beetle poses to Georgia's forests.
• Resolution clause (2) recognizes the acute, ongoing outbreak specifically in western Georgia.
• Resolution clause (3) encourages landowners to follow Georgia Forestry Commission best management practices to mitigate the outbreak.
• The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2026-02-26Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-02-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)Primary sponsor
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 26, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)

   Consent Calendar Expressing The Will Of The Senate: Senate Vote #590

• forestry
• southern pine beetle
• agriculture
• rural economy
• conservation