Summary for May 5, 2021
As legislation continues to be reviewed by the Governor, I want to continue to keep you all informed and up to date. Governor Brian Kemp recently signed three new pieces of legislation that are related to forestry. House Bill 90 was one of the first bills to reach the Governor’s desk from the 2021 session. This bill enables forest product mills to continue purchasing timber without needing to conduct a title search on every load. In 1939, the forest industry was vertically integrated with mills primarily purchasing timber directly from forest landowners. However, mills today primarily purchase already cut timber as a commodity good at their mill gates from loggers/wood dealers. House Bill 90 corrects the previous, outdated law and ensures the purchasers of cut timber protections as “buyers in the ordinary course of business” and are able to purchase commodity logs free and clear of a security interest so long as they meet certain conditions Additionally, House Bill 282 makes key improvements to the Qualified Timberland Property program to benefit forest landowners across the state by ensuring the regulations for the program aligns with legislative intent when it was created in 2018, and that the program is more user friendly for applicants. It eliminates onerous application requirements such as a requirement to have a forest management plan or costly surveys, ensures that the current use of timberland property is considered in valuations of tracts, and clarifies language from CUVA/ FLPA.
Finally, House Bill 355 was signed by the governor after receiving complete approval, with no changes, from the Senate. This one-of-a-kind environmental legislation creates the nation’s first carbon registry for sustainable buildings that will encourage developers to utilize mass timber and other materials that sequester carbon. This legislation will create a dual pathway for accruing carbon credits. However, participation in the registry would be entirely optional, and developers that do not want to participate in it will not be required to do so in any way.
I hope this information answers questions and brings clarity to thoughts regarding these bills. If you have any further concerns about these bills or other legislation, please contact me. You may reach me directly at 404-656-0116, or by email at robert. pruitt@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative and I look forward to seeing you soon.
As the State Representative for District 149, Robert Pruitt serves Dodge County, Telfair County, Wheeler County, Cadwell, and Hazlehurst. During the second week of the 2021 Legislative Session, Rep Pruitt was appointed to serve on the Industry and Trade, Economic Development, and Small Business committees for the next two years. Robert and his wife Kelly have been long time residents of Eastman.
By Rep. Robert Pruitt (District 149)
