Bill > HR32

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the maximum acreage of land that can qualify for assessment and taxation as a "bona fide conservation use property" from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres for a single owner. Currently, landowners can receive preferential tax treatment for agricultural and timber lands if they enter into a covenant to maintain the property's conservation use. Under this proposed amendment, if a landowner breaches the conservation use covenant within ten years, they would be required to recapture the tax savings and potentially face other penalties. The amendment aims to protect family farmland by allowing larger properties to benefit from this tax assessment method. If ratified by voters, the change would be incorporated into the Georgia Constitution, with the ballot specifically asking voters whether they support increasing the maximum qualifying acreage from 2,000 to 4,000 acres for conservation use property taxation.

Budget and Finance

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69433