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GA HB997

Bill

Status

Passed

5/10/2022

Primary Sponsor

Sam Watson

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2021-2022 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Grants a statewide exemption from all ad valorem property taxes for equipment owned or lease-purchased by timber producers and directly used in the production or harvest of timber, effective January 1, 2023
  • Defines covered "timber equipment" as non-motor-vehicle equipment including off-road machinery such as skidders, feller bunchers, debarkers, delimbers, chip harvesters, loaders, dozers, and related attachments used from tree severing through field loading
  • Defines "timber producer" as any individual or state-registered entity primarily engaged in good faith subsistence or commercial production or harvest of timber products, which may also engage in secondary practices such as land conservation, wildlife habitat management, or carbon sequestration
  • Requires approval by statewide referendum on the November 2022 general election ballot, with automatic repeal on January 1, 2023, if voters reject the measure or the election is not conducted
  • Requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives to satisfy state constitutional requirements for property tax exemptions

Legislative Description

Ad valorem tax; timber equipment and timber products held by timber producers; provide exemption

Last Action

Effective Date 2022-05-10

5/10/2022

Committee Referrals

Finance3/16/2022
Ways and Means1/26/2022

Full Bill Text

No bill text available