U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Greg Murphy (R-NC) on April 28 joined a bipartisan contingent of their colleagues in introducing legislation that would help family forest landowners keep working forests productive as they recover from natural disasters.
“Georgia’s family forest landowners are essential to our economy and our way of life,” Rep. Carter said. “It’s the number one state for forestry, supporting rural jobs, strengthening supply chains, and keeping our environment healthy and resilient.
“Foresters need our support; right now, in my district, wildfires in Brantley County have burned over 20,000 acres,” added the congressman. “By building on proven expensing policies, this bill ensures they can recover quickly after disasters and continue managing healthy, productive forests.”
Rep. Carter sponsored the Save America’s Family Forests Act of 2026, H.R. 8538, alongside seven original cosponsors, including Rep. Murphy and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), to fully and immediately expense reforestation costs following a federally declared natural disaster; remove the $10,000 cap and eliminate long recovery periods under the current law; and improve access to the capital needed to quickly replant and restore forests.
“North Carolina’s family forest landowners face growing risks from storms and natural disasters, especially after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and they need common-sense tax policy that supports recovery,” said Rep. Murphy. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act helps keep working forests productive and in family hands by accelerating reforestation investment when it matters most, while also supporting efforts to expand domestic timber production and strengthen our rural economies.”
The Georgia Forestry Association, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, the Forest Landowners Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation support H.R. 8538, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.
“As wildfires and severe weather events become more frequent, we must help landowners recover and rebuild,” Rep. Sewell said. “I’m honored to join my colleagues in advancing this bipartisan effort to support family forest landowners.”