Senate committee advances bill to clarify 'prescribed burning' and state authority over silviculture
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Summary
The Natural Resources committee advanced House Bill 983, filed at the request of the Georgia Forestry Commission, to more clearly define 'prescribed burning' for silviculture, confirm the Commission's authorization role, and codify training for certified burners. The committee approved the measure by voice/hand vote.
An explanation of how local rules apply to forestry and what training is required took center stage Tuesday as the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee advanced House Bill 983.
The bill, introduced to the committee at the request of the Georgia Forestry Commission, would tighten the statutory language describing "prescribed burning" so cities, counties and private landowners are clear about when a burn is silviculture (forestry) work rather than a general debris or land-clearing burn. "This bill more clearly defines the term prescribed burning, and what that entails," the bill presenter (Speaker 3) told the committee.
Committee members said the clarification responds to inconsistent local practices and a recent legal dispute. A forestry official noted that "we recently had a city actually take it to superior court" after contesting whether a site-prep burn qualified as silvicultural work; committee discussion said that uncertainty prompted the rule change.
The Georgia Forestry Commission will continue to issue authorizations for silvicultural burns and administer training under current law, the department representative said. When asked whether local governments retain authority over the time, place and manner of burns, the department answered that municipalities do not have regulatory authority over silviculture in the bill's scope: "Not for silviculture," the forestry official said.
Senator Goodman moved that the committee "do pass" the bill; the chair said there was a second and the committee adopted the motion by a voice/hand vote. The transcript records the motion and that the measure "carried," but no roll-call tally appears in the record.
If passed by the full Legislature, the bill would aim to reduce confusion for landowners and local governments and to reinforce the role of the Georgia Forestry Commission in authorizing and training prescribed burners.
The committee assigned a senator to carry the bill forward to the next stage; further hearings or votes will be scheduled as legislative rules require.