Pierce County’s State Senator Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) has sponsored Senate Bill 52, the 'Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability” (TREES) Act.
The TREES Act passed the Georgia State Senate with unanimous, bi-partisan support last week.
The bill allows local governments within the Hurricane Helene federal disaster area to provide temporary relief from taxes for the harvest or sale of standing timber during the final quarter of 2024 and throughout 2025. Pierce County is included in the federal disaster area.
Senate Bill 52 outlines a process a local government must follow to grant this relief and audits that must be performed by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Additionally, subject to appropriations, SB 52 establishes state grants to offset revenue losses suffered by local governments, as the result of the hurricane and the tax relief granted by the TREES Act.
The bill must be voted on and approved by the Georgia House of Representatives and signed by Governor Kemp before it becomes law.
