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GA SR470
Resolution
Status
Passed
2/15/2024
Primary Sponsor
Billy Hickman
Click for details
AI Summary
- Creates the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia's Farmlands, composed of seven members appointed by the President of the Senate, with at least four from the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
- Addresses the loss of approximately 2.6 million acres of crop, hay, and pasture land in Georgia from 1974 to 2016, driven by economic pressures including litigation threats, cost inflation, volatile crop prices, rising property taxes, water shortages, and development conversion
- Directs the committee to evaluate farmland protection measures from other agricultural states and seek expert advice in agricultural economics, tax policy, land management, economic development, and environmental law
- Builds on recent legislative efforts including the Freedom to Farm Act (2022) and the Georgia Farmland Conservation Act (2023), which established the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund Program for voluntary farmland use restrictions
- Committee members may receive allowances for up to five days of meetings, funded from Senate appropriations, and must file any report with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee's abolishment on December 1, 2024
Legislative Description
Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia's Farmlands; create
Last Action
Senate Passed/Adopted
2/15/2024
Committee Referrals
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs1/25/2024
Full Bill Text
No bill text available