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House agrees to Senate substitute for HB 223 to suspend county severance tax for storm-damaged timber; House vote 153-0
Summary
The House agreed to a Senate substitute for House Bill 223, temporarily suspending the county severance tax for timber harvested from storm-damaged land and authorizing Department of Revenue reimbursement to counties; the motion passed 153-0.
The Georgia House on March 21 agreed to the Senate substitute for House Bill 223, a measure addressing tax and relief issues for timber and forest landowners affected by recent storm damage. The chamber approved the motion to accept the Senate changes by a recorded vote of 153-0.
Representative Burchette, who explained the Senate additions on the floor, said the substitute suspends the county severance tax for relevant timber harvests for the final quarter of 2024 and for 2025, and permits counties to opt in to the suspension. "What this does is suspend that tax," Burchette said, adding that the Department of Revenue would reimburse counties for any lost severance-tax revenue based on a three-year average price rather than the lower post-storm market value.
Burchette told members the change was intended to prevent counties and timber owners from being harmed by depressed market values immediately after a storm. He said the provision is permissive for local governments; counties are not required to adopt the suspension.
Members asked questions about fiscal cost, and Burchette said a fiscal note exists and that he would provide additional cost details. Representative Jasmine Clark asked whether the suspension included a sunset; Burchette said it is limited to the last quarter of 2024 and calendar year 2025.
On the motion "that the House agree to the Senate substitute to House Bill 223," the electronic vote recorded yeas 153, nays 0. The clerk announced the House had agreed to the Senate substitute.
