ATL Standard

State Representative Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) has sponsored House Bill 1052, aiming to provide flexibility in the Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) statute for non-family farm entities. Cannon explained, "As the code reads today, if a CUVA qualified family farm wanted to lease their farm land to a non-family farm entity, it would breach the underlying CUVA covenant for the landowner."

Cannon highlighted the importance of CUVA, which provides favorable tax treatment for agricultural land to prevent conversion to residential or commercial use. He emphasized, "This is an important topic in my district." The bill seeks to address the restriction that currently limits leasing to family farms related by blood or marriage within the fourth degree of civil reckoning.

Acknowledging the changing landscape of farming operations, Cannon stated, "Many farming operations today are unrelated individuals who have formed an LLC for liability protection and to split operating costs—that makes them non-family farms." He thanked various organizations and individuals for their support in developing the legislation, including the Georgia Agri-Business Council, Georgia Farm Bureau, and Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

The proposed bill maintains the original CUVA qualifying restrictions while offering flexibility for non-family farm entities. It aims to uphold the integrity of the CUVA statute while adapting to modern farming practices. House Bill 1052 received overwhelming support in the House, passing with a vote of 166-2 and now awaits consideration by the Senate.