Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Raphael Warnock have reintroduced a bill aimed at aiding forest landowners impacted by natural disasters. The proposed legislation, known as the Disaster Reforestation Act, seeks to amend the tax code, allowing forest owners to deduct the value of their timber prior to losses from natural events.

"Louisianans know too well the importance of natural disaster relief," Senator Cassidy remarked. "When their lives and communities are torn apart by storms, they need a tax fix like this."

Senator Warnock emphasized the importance of the act for rural communities affected by disasters such as hurricanes. "The bipartisan Disaster Reforestation Act will help lessen the burden on forest owners during a recovery process following a natural disaster," he said. "The forestry industry is central to Georgia’s economy and ecology, and I’m happy to work alongside Senator Cassidy in this."

Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association, praised the initiative. "The Disaster Reforestation Act is not a handout or a subsidy—it simply corrects the casualty loss deduction so landowners can claim the true value of their damaged timber," he stated.

C.A. "Buck" Vandersteen from the Louisiana Forestry Association endorsed the bill, citing its potential to assist landowners in swiftly returning land to production post-disaster.

Support for the Disaster Reforestation Act extends across various forestry associations and organizations nationwide. The proposed legislation provides a mechanism for landowners to recover economically by allowing deductions similar to those available for other crops.

Richard Fontenot, President of Louisiana Farm Bureau, expressed gratitude for the Senators' efforts. "The Disaster Reforestation Act would give forest landowners some sign of hope when a disaster strikes," he noted.

Forests in Louisiana play an integral role in the state's ecology and economy, contributing significantly to air quality and providing substantial economic impact. The legislation aims to secure these contributions by offering tax relief for timber loss.

Background information shows that while existing disaster relief policies assist agriculture, they lack support for timber losses. The act proposes changes to allow deductions based on appraised timber value before losses occur.