Senator Britt Reintroduces Bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act to Aid Forest Owners
Bill would amend tax code to allow private forest owners to deduct full value of timber lost to disaster
A group of U.S. Senators, led by Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), have reintroduced the Disaster Reforestation Act, a bipartisan bill designed to help landowners recover from timber losses due to natural disasters.
“The Disaster Reforestation Act would give landowners the resources and relief to recover from the devastating impacts of natural disasters,” said Senator Britt. “Ultimately, our legislation allows foresters to leave their land better for their children and their grandchildren. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to provide support to Alabama’s hardworking forest owners and our entire forestry community.”
The bill seeks to amend the U.S. tax code, allowing private forest owners to deduct the full value of their timber prior to its loss in a natural disaster. Currently, while farmers growing traditional crops have access to federal disaster relief programs, timberland owners do not receive comparable financial support when their forests are destroyed by hurricanes, wildfires, or other catastrophic events.
Alabama, which boasts over 23 million acres of forestland, has the third-largest forest coverage in the continental U.S. The forestry industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy, supporting more than 111,000 jobs and generating an estimated $27.7 billion in economic output annually. Notably, 93% of Alabama’s forests are privately owned, making disaster relief efforts crucial for the state’s landowners.
Senator Cassidy emphasized the importance of the legislation for states frequently hit by natural disasters, stating, “Louisianans know too well the importance of natural disaster relief. When their lives and communities are torn apart by storms, they need a tax fix like this.”
Senator Warnock echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of forestry to Georgia’s economy. “Our rural communities need all the help they can get after a disaster like Hurricane Helene devastates farmland and forests. The bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act will help lessen the burden on forest owners during a recovery process following a natural disaster,” he said.
Senator Britt has been a strong advocate for policies that support Alabama’s forestry industry. She recently attended an event with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, where the agency announced a review of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Britt has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s interpretation of the rule, arguing that it places excessive regulatory burdens on landowners.
“The uncertainty of Biden’s WOTUS rule has created and continues to create an unsustainable state of shifting permitting in this country,” Britt stated during a 2023 Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. “The cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars for Americans to comply with ever-changing regulations. Alabamians shouldn’t need to pay a lawyer to find out if a ditch on their land is now federally regulated.”
With bipartisan support and growing concern over natural disaster recovery efforts, the Disaster Reforestation Act aims to bridge the gap in relief for timberland owners, ensuring they have the financial tools necessary to rebuild and sustain their forests for future generations.
