25 LC 44 3075
House Bill 547
By: Representatives Cannon of the 172
nd
, Dickey of the 134
th
, Corbett of the 174
th
, Meeks
of the 178
th
, Huddleston of the 72
nd
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential2
transitional property, so as to permit the combination of multiple covenants of a single owner3
into a single, new, ten-year covenant; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related4
matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential8
assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional9
property, is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:10
"(e.1)(1) A single owner, as described in subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section,
11
who has multiple parcels of bona fide conservation use property that are collectively12
subject to more than one valid covenant under this Code section may combine such13
parcels and covenants in whole under a single, new, ten-year covenant for bona fide14
conservation use without constituting a breach of any of the covenants, provided that all15
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such property would be otherwise eligible to be placed under a renewal covenant under16
this Code section by the owner upon the natural expiration of the original covenant.17
(2) The provisions of this subsection shall not permit or be construed to:18
(A) Allow any portion of property held under a covenant to be removed from the19
covenant without being combined into the new covenant;20
(B) Change any requirements for what constitutes qualified property; or21
(C) Change any requirements for what constitutes qualifying use for purposes of this22
Code section.23
(3) A single owner, as described in subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section, desiring24
to proceed with combining parcels pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall first25
file a real property tax return with the appropriate board of tax assessors on or before the26
deadline to file a real property tax return.27
(4) Parcels on which delinquent taxes are owed shall not be eligible to be combined28
pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection."29
SECTION 2.30
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.31
SECTION 3.32
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.33
H. B. 547
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