Committee advances bill to change managed timberland recertification from annual to every five years

House Bill 2399 would change the frequency at which owners of managed timberland must recertify their status with the Division of Forestry from once per year to once every five years. The Senate Natural Resources Committee voted to report the engrossed committee substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, with the measure first to be referred to the Committee on Finance.

The change was described by committee counsel as an amendment to two sections of the state tax code governing administration of managed timberland property by the Division of Forestry. Committee counsel said the amendment reduces the reporting requirement from one year to five years and also requires the Division of Forestry to promulgate rules to administer the program.

Jeremy Jones, director of the Division of Forestry, told the committee the change reflects recommendations from a 2023 legislative audit and would make…