Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Help Forest Landowners Recover and Replant After Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) welcomed bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced yesterday in the U.S. House (H.R. 8538) and to be introduced today in the Senate that would help private forest landowners recover reforestation costs more quickly after natural disasters. FLA says current tax rules slow down replanting after major losses.
The Save America’s Family Forests Act is led in the U.S. House by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Greg Steube (R-FL), and Mike Thompson (D-CA), and in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
Under current law, forest landowners can only deduct up to $10,000 in reforestation costs in the year they are spent. Any remaining costs must be spread out over the next seven years. Supporters of the bill say this structure makes it harder for landowners to replant quickly after disasters.
The legislation would triple the immediate deduction from $10,000 to $30,000 for all landowners. It would also allow those affected by federally declared disasters to deduct up to $500,000 in reforestation costs immediately.
Supporters say these changes would help landowners recover faster and reduce financial pressure that can sometimes force them to sell their land, which may then be converted to other uses.
Privately owned forests provide most of the nation’s timber and support millions of rural jobs. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods and ice storms can wipe out decades of growth in a matter of hours or days. Faster replanting also helps restore wildlife habitat, water quality and long-term carbon storage.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said the bill supports communities that depend on forestry for jobs, stating, “Thousands of Louisianians rely on our forest industries for work. Supporting our forest landowners as they rebuild is the right thing to do.”
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) said rural communities depend on healthy forests, stating, “Alabama’s Black Belt and rural communities depend on healthy, working forests for jobs and economic opportunity. As wildfires and severe weather events become more frequent, we must help landowners recover and rebuild. I’m honored to join my colleagues in advancing this bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pointed to the growing challenges from natural disasters, stating, “Right now, Georgia forest landowners are dealing with the repercussions of increasingly severe wildfires and natural disasters. The Save America’s Family Forests Act would give them additional support as they recover and keep their land in production. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to support the families and communities who depend on healthy forests.”
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) said forestry is central to Georgia’s economy, stating, “Georgia’s family forest landowners are essential to our economy and our way of life. It’s the number one state for forestry, supporting rural jobs, strengthening supply chains, and keeping our environment healthy and resilient. By building on proven expensing policies, this bill ensures they can recover quickly after disasters and continue managing healthy, productive forests.”
Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association, said the bill would make recovery more practical for landowners.
“Family forest landowners play a vital role in keeping America’s working forests healthy, resilient, and productive, but recovering from natural disasters can create significant financial challenges,” Jones said. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act provides a commonsense solution by allowing landowners to reinvest more quickly in reforestation when it matters most. This will help ensure our forests remain a strong foundation for rural economies, timber production, and long-term environmental stewardship.”
The Forest Landowners Association urges Members of Congress to support the Save America’s Family Forests Act by signing on as cosponsors.