Committee hears bill to reauthorize and expand Georgia conservation tax credit through 2031

Representative Cannon presented HB 1148 to reauthorize the Georgia conservation tax credit for five additional years through 2031 and to increase the per-property credit from 25% to 50% of appraised fair-market value, subject to caps of $500,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for partnerships. The sponsor said the bill would set an aggregate annual cap of $25,000,000 implemented in a laddered approach beginning with a $5,000,000 cap in the first year, and would streamline the application process while keeping Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversight.

Shane Wellendorf, identified as director of Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy and board chair of the Association of Georgia Land Trusts, told the committee the credit has conserved more than 240,000 acres across 130 counties since 2006 but that interest declined after 2013 when process changes made applications lengthy; he said the last application his organization completed took 293 days and that HB 1148's appraisal-review approach could shorten reviews to 30–60 days.

Mike Worley, president and CEO of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, and Eden Davis of the Georgia Conservancy also testified in support, stressing that because much of Georgia is privately owned, incentives for private landowners are critical to protecting habitat and natural resources. Sponsor and witnesses emphasized that conserved properties carry perpetual easements and that accredited land trusts would hold easements to reduce the risk of syndicated or overvalued transactions.

Committee members asked whether a conserved property could be transferred without development — sponsor confirmed perpetual easement restrictions would remain in place — and queried the maximum credit available; the sponsor confirmed the caps described in the bill. The hearing concluded and the subcommittee adjourned; no vote on HB 1148 occurred at this meeting.