# Georgia HB 983: Conservation and natural resources; prescribed burning for silviculture purposes is exempt from certain burning notice and permit requirements; clarify

Georgia HB 983, Conservation and natural resources; prescribed burning for silviculture purposes is exempt from certain burning notice and permit requirements; clarify, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Burchett (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), Leesa Hagan (Republican) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB983-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 983
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Conservation and natural resources; prescribed burning for silviculture purposes is exempt from certain burning notice and permit requirements; clarify
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: James Burchett (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), Leesa Hagan (Republican), Steven Meeks (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Natural Resources & Environment, Natural Resources and the Environment, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (213 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Georgia landowners gain controlled burn protections: mixed, low. Georgia counties and cities can add burn notice or permit rules, but those rules cannot restrict qualifying prescribed burns. These are controlled fires for forest management in a planned area, under specified environmental conditions and with appropriate precautions. Covered goals include preparin…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Burchett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chas Cannon (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Leesa Hagan (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Steven Meeks (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-16 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 51 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-02-12 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 162 | 0 | 8 |

## Actions (15)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-06: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-06: Act 429
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-16: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-12: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-02-05: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-01-27: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-01-16: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-01-15: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 983/AP* (v3): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246127)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 983/AP* (v3) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246127)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
- [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills)
- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB983-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).