GA SB52

Authorizes local governing authorities in FEMA-designated Hurricane Helene disaster areas to waive ad valorem taxes on timber harvest/sale for Q4 2024 and all quarters of 2025 for severely damaged or destroyed timber property

Estimated timber losses from Hurricane Helene reached nearly $1.3 billion as of November 2024, with southwest Georgia's timber industry particularly devastated

Requires the Georgia Forestry Commission to establish a certification form within 10 days of enactment for taxpayers to claim tax relief, and authorizes the Commission to conduct compliance audits

Provides state grants to participating local governments to offset lost timber tax revenue, capped at the average of each authority's timber tax revenue from 2021-2023, contingent on General Assembly appropriation

Grants will not affect calculation of equalized adjusted property tax digests for school funding purposes under the local five mill share requirement