Update: 5/5/2009:  Georgia 2009 Post-Legislative Update

The proposal to ease CUVA restrictions for family limited partnerships did not pass.

Few measures affecting agricultural assessments and taxation passed: One places a limitation on assessment increases for two years; another adds an arbitration option to the assessment appeals process; and, the most significant one extends the 2009 filing deadline to June 1 for the recently implemented Forest Land Protection Act ratified in the 2008 general election.  This latter legislation also adds the impact of conservation easements on land values as one of the assessment criteria.

Rules for the new Forest Land Protection Act (FLPA) are still in the proposal stage at this time.  2009 CUVA agricultural and timberland values and 2009 FLPA values are available.  Values have increased by approximately 2.5-3%.  FLPA values and CUVA timberland values are identical.