Atlanta, GA |

With over 23 million acres of commercial timberland, Georgia leads the nation in forestry production. But despite that ranking, the industry is facing mounting pressure from market disruptions and increasing financial strain — prompting legislative action at the state level.

House Resolution 1000, introduced this session, proposes eliminating Georgia’s timber harvest tax for landowners who replant and maintain their timberland under conservation status, such as CUVA (Conservation Use Value Assessment).

“Right now, there’s a timber tax that’s charged to timber farmers at the time of harvest and that’s collected purely for local purposes,” said Georgia House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration. “But it will then allow the local government that is relying on that revenue from timber tax to actually receive funds from the state… as long as the timber farmer’s replanting and the land’s in conservation.”

The resolution comes at a time when Georgia is already seeing a concerning decline in family farms. That trend, combined with increased land pressure from private investment groups, has lawmakers seeking ways to keep timberland in the hands of families who’ve worked it for generations.

“I’m really concerned about family farmers — individuals who want to keep land in the family,” said Efstration. “There are private equity and other folks out there trying to buy up land right now. My interest was ensuring that timber producers who are just trying to replant and make it through this very difficult time will be able to make ends meet.”

The proposed legislation aims to strike a balance — supporting struggling landowners while also protecting the local communities that depend on the timber tax revenue. Under the resolution, the state would offset the lost revenue for counties, cities, and school systems.

“Any way we can recognize that and keep that in mind here at the state capitol is something I want to do,” Efstration said. “These measures are an appropriate way to help family timber farmers who are going through great difficulty right now — without hurting the communities that have reasonably relied on this revenue in the past.”

Getting the resolution passed won’t be simple. In order to make it onto the ballot this November, the measure must gain two-thirds support in both chambers of the legislature. Still, momentum appears to be building.

“It’s gotten a lot of support up here,” Efstration said. “Even local governments understand this is really a crisis moment. Help is needed. This is a meaningful solution — as long as we can ensure that locals are made whole and that they’re not going to have a gap in their budget.”

He also noted that the effort is gaining bipartisan support. “Ultimately, it has to pass bipartisan. You have to have two-thirds votes in both the House and the Senate… I’m the Republican leader in the State House, but there are also Democrat members that have signed.”

By: Damon Jones