Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), along with several Senate colleagues, have reintroduced the bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act, aimed at helping American landowners recover from the loss of timber due to natural disasters.
The legislation seeks to amend the tax code to allow forest owners to deduct the pre-loss value of their timber destroyed by natural disasters. Under current law, while relief programs exist for traditional agricultural crops, timber landowners receive no comparable economic relief. The proposed measure would address this gap by ensuring that forest owners can claim tax deductions similar to other agricultural producers.
“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.”
Alabama has over 23 million acres of forestland, ranking third in the continental United States. The forestry industry supports more than 111,000 jobs and generates an estimated $27.7 billion in economic impact. Additionally, 93% of Alabama’s forests are privately owned, with the state experiencing annual growth of 2-2.5% in tree volume.
Senator Cassidy emphasized the significance of disaster relief for timber landowners, particularly in states like Louisiana, which frequently experience severe storms. “Louisianans know too well the importance of natural disaster relief,” Cassidy stated. “When their lives and communities are torn apart by storms, they need a tax fix like this.”
Senator Warnock highlighted the bill’s importance for rural communities. “Our rural communities need all the help they can get after a disaster like Hurricane Helene devastates farmland and forests,” he said. “The bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act will help lessen the burden on forest owners during a recovery process following a natural disaster. The forestry industry is central to Georgia’s economy and ecology, and I’m happy to work alongside Senator Cassidy in this.”
The bill’s reintroduction reflects ongoing bipartisan efforts to address the economic challenges faced by forest landowners impacted by natural disasters.
