A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington introduced a new bill this week aimed at giving family-owned forests a faster way to recover after being hit by natural disasters.
Known as the Save America’s Family Forests Act, the legislation seeks to overhaul current tax rules that supporters say make it too expensive and too slow for landowners to replant trees after hurricanes, wildfires, or floods.
The bill was introduced by Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), and Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas).
If passed, it would allow forest owners to immediately deduct reforestation costs following a qualified natural disaster. Under the current Internal Revenue Code, these owners are often forced to spread those costs out over an eight-year period, a delay that many argue stalls economic recovery in rural areas.
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“In Florida, our family forests face constant threats from hurricanes and severe flooding that can wipe out years of timber production overnight,” Rep. Steube said. He noted that the bill would provide tax relief right when the replanting costs hit, rather than years later, helping to keep timber affordable and rural economies stable.
The issue is particularly pressing for timber growers because they do not have access to federal crop insurance, leaving them vulnerable to massive financial losses when weather turns destructive. Rep. Greg Murphy pointed to the recent devastation of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina as a prime example of why landowners need more flexibility. “The Save America’s Family Forests Act helps keep working forests productive and in family hands by accelerating reforestation investment when it matters most,” Murphy stated.
The legislation also addresses a gap in the current tax code where a landowner’s “basis”—the value used to claim losses—is often exhausted once timber is harvested or replanted. This leaves them with little to no tax relief if another disaster strikes shortly after. By allowing for immediate expensing, the bill aims to give the timber industry parity with other agricultural sectors that receive more robust disaster support.
Rep. Terri Sewell emphasized the economic stakes for the Deep South, noting that Alabama’s Black Belt depends on healthy forests for jobs. “As wildfires and severe weather events become more frequent, we must help landowners recover and rebuild,” Sewell said.
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The bill has already picked up significant support from outside groups, including the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the Forest Landowners Association, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Jeb S. Smith, President of the Florida Farm Bureau, called the current policy a “penalty” for doing the right thing. He argued that forcing landowners to wait years to recover costs only discourages them from reinvesting in the land.
The technical details of the bill include an increase in the base expensing amount from $10,000 to $30,000, with adjustments for inflation starting after 2026. For reforestation specifically linked to disasters, the deduction limit would be set at $500,000 for individual properties, capped at $1 million in the aggregate.
As Rep. Nathaniel Moran put it, the goal is to make sure the tax code works for the industry rather than against it. “America’s timber industry needs parity when it comes to relief and recovery from natural disasters,” Moran said. “This legislation gives forest landowners the tools to act fast.”
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