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Bill Summary · LC 2366

Legislative Bill Summary: LC 2366 – Increase property tax rates on forest lands

At a glance

  • Bill number: LC 2366
  • Title: Increase property tax rates on forest lands
  • Status: Draft died in process (LC)
  • Introduced: December 8, 2024
  • Classification/Subject: Bill; Forests and Forestry, Revenue, Local/State Taxation, Property Tax
  • Recent actions: Drafts moved through several drafting steps in early 2025; ultimate status as of May 20, 2025: Draft Died in Process

Purpose and intent

  • The bill is aimed at changing how property taxes are assessed or taxed on forest lands by increasing the property tax rates applicable to those lands.
  • The explicit statutory text is not provided here, so the exact mechanism (e.g., higher per-acre rates, revised assessment methodology, or new tax brackets) and the scope (which forest lands—private, state-owned, commercial timberlands, etc.) cannot be confirmed from the information available.

Key provisions (what the bill would do)

  • Based on the title, LC 2366 would modify property tax treatment of forest lands to raise tax liability relative to current law.
  • Specific provisions such as:
    • The new rate schedule or percentage increases
    • Any phased-in timelines or transition rules
    • Exemptions, deferrals, or caps (if any)
    • Administrative or assessment process changes
    • Applicability to particular categories of forest land (private timberlands, public lands, conservation lands, etc.)
  • Note: The actual statutory text is not provided in the brief, so these details are not known from the information available.

Who would be affected

  • Primary impact: forest landowners and holders of forest land (e.g., private timberland owners, timber companies, land trusts) who would experience higher property tax bills under the bill’s framework.
  • Indirect effects could include local government revenue implications, potential shifts in land-use decisions, and impacts on forest management economics if tax costs rise.

Procedural history and timeline

  • Dec 8, 2024: Draft assigned; initial drafting stage noted as on hold.
  • Feb 5–7, 2025: Series of drafting steps including legal review, edits, final drafter review, and assembly drafting.
  • Feb 10, 2025: Draft ready for delivery.
  • May 20, 2025: Status updated to Draft Died in Process.
  • The progression shows the bill advanced through drafting stages but ultimately did not proceed to enactment in the session.

Fiscal and policy implications (caveats)

  • Without the actual text, precise fiscal impact cannot be calculated. In general, increasing property tax rates on forest lands could:
    • Increase tax revenue to local governments or school districts, depending on the local tax structure and exemptions.
    • Affect landowner after-tax costs, which could influence land management decisions, conservation behavior, timber investment, and land-use planning.
  • The absence of a final enacted version means any revenue estimates or economic effects remain speculative.

Next steps and considerations

  • If the objective remains, sponsors would likely reintroduce a revised bill in a future session.
  • Key questions to clarify in any forthcoming version:
    • Exact rate changes and affected land categories
    • Any exemptions, credits, or deferrals
    • Sunset or review provisions
    • Effective dates and transition rules
    • Administrative changes to assessment or collection

This summary reflects the information publicly available for LC 2366 and does not include text not provided in the bill overview.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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