Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SR 480: Georgia Forests; acute and ongoing threat to Georgia's forests posed by the southern pine beetle; recognize
Last action February 26, 2026 · Senate Passed/Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes the threat the southern pine beetle poses to the state's forests, especially in western Georgia, and encourages landowners to follow Georgia Forestry Commission guidance to limit its spread.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
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.
What the bill does
- 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.
Who it affects
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.
Why it matters
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.
Key provisions
- 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.
From the bill
“southern pine beetle infestations can cause significant tree mortality, leading to economic losses for landowners, increased wildfire risk, and reduced forest health and productivity”
“thinning overcrowded stands, removing infested trees, and adhering to best management practices are the most effective means of controlling and preventing further spread of the southern pine beetle”
Discussed in meetings (4)
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.
Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee, February 23, 2026
From 0:31:12 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 480 recognizes the southern pine beetle as a significant threat, particularly in western Georgia, and encourages landowners to limit its spread through forest management practices recommended by the Georgia Forestry Commission. The sponsor credited Georgia’s forest management practices with limiting fire damage, while the chair said the resolution was especially timely after Hurricane Helene. A committee member who reported losing about 30 trees asked how to address infestations. The sponsor recommended removing dead trees and some trees around an outbreak, and the chair supported removing infected trees and using controlled burns. Another member asked whether homeowners associations should remove infested trees near neighboring properties; the sponsor agreed. A different member said markets for small-diameter wood were important to maintaining healthy forests and mentioned possible future legislation supporting wood markets. Another member encouraged landowners to seek help from local Forestry Commission staff. The committee unanimously approved the resolution.
Senate Rules Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:38:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented the resolution as recognizing forestry's importance to Georgia and the threat posed by the southern pine beetle. No substantive objections were raised. The committee unanimously moved the resolution to the consent calendar together with another awareness resolution.
Status timeline
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
Votes
- Senate voteFebruary 26, 2026
48 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 excused)
Topics
- forestry
- southern pine beetle
- agriculture
- rural economy
- conservation