Georgia HB547: Revenue and taxation; bona fide conservation use property; permit combination of multiple covenants into a single, new, ten-year covenant

What the bill says

To amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to permit the combination of multiple covenants of a single owner into a single, new, ten-year covenant; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

From the introduced text:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to permit the combination of multiple covenants of a single owner into a single, new, ten-year covenant; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows: "(e.1)(1) A single owner, as described in subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section, who has multiple parcels of bona fide conservation use property that are collectively subject to more than one valid covenant under this Code section may combine such parcels and covenants in whole under a single, new, ten-year covenant for bona fide conservation use without constituting a breach of any of the covenants, provided that all H. B. LC 44 3075 such property would be otherwise eligible to be placed under a renewal covenant under this Code section by the owner upon the natural expiration …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Randy Robertson (R, 29) · primary sponsor
• Cannon, Chas (R, 172) · primary sponsor
• Robert Dickey (R, 134)
• John Corbett (R, 174)
• Steven Meeks (R, 178)
• David Huddleston (R, 72)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)

Latest actions

1. March 25, 2026: Senate Read Second Time
2. March 25, 2026: Senate Committee Favorably Reported
3. March 9, 2026: Senate Read and Referred
4. March 6, 2026: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
5. March 6, 2026: House Third Readers
6. March 3, 2026: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
7. February 24, 2025: House Second Readers
8. February 21, 2025: House First Readers
9. February 20, 2025: House Hopper

Votes

• House Vote #659 (March 6, 2026): 169 yea, 2 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB547?

HB547 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Revenue and taxation; bona fide conservation use property; permit combination of multiple covenants into a single, new, ten-year covenant.

What does HB547 do?

In its own words: To amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to permit the combination of multiple covenants of a single owner into a single, new, ten-year covenant; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

What is the status of HB547?

Passed one chamber as of March 25, 2026. Latest action: Senate Read Second Time (March 25, 2026).

Who sponsored HB547?

Randy Robertson (R, 29), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB547?

On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70584