Bill > HB454

This bill establishes the Vince Dooley Battlefield Trust Fund and accompanying program to help preserve historic battlefields in Georgia. The fund will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources and will provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations and state agencies seeking to acquire land or conservation easements for Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields identified in specific national reports. Grants will cover up to 50% of a property's appraised value, and applicants must provide matching contributions, with priority given to battlefields that are historically significant, located in core or study areas, near other protected lands, and facing preservation threats. Any organization receiving a grant must place a perpetual conservation easement on the acquired property, restricting its use and development, and the department can use up to 5% of the fund's total money for administrative costs. The fund will be financed through annual state appropriations, public and private grants, donations, and other dedicated funding sources. Recipients of grants can potentially transfer acquired properties to state or federal conservation agencies, with the department facilitating such transfers. The bill aims to protect important historical battlefields by providing financial and strategic support for their preservation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70326