Senate committee approves Georgia Outdoor Stewardship proposals; DNR outlines feral‑hog pilot and bond requests
March 11, 2026 | 2026 Legislature Georgia, Georgia
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The Senate Natural Resources Committee approved the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act proposals for FY25–26 by voice/hand vote and then heard a multi‑division briefing from the Department of Natural Resources on restoration, trust‑fund adjustments and wildlife programs.
The chair moved to accept the proposals and, after a motion and second, committee members voted in favor. A committee aide stated the acceptance is the final step to notify recipients of program awards.
DNR representative told the committee the agency is recommending several bond‑funded capital projects for FY27, including $4.94 million for replacement vehicles and emergency equipment (with $1.25 million to Environmental Protection Division) and $16.91 million for facility improvements statewide, with $1.25 million to EPD and the remainder for other DNR divisions. The agency said those funds would support vehicles, aerial ignition drones and renovations to statewide facilities.
Feral hogs featured in the presentation. DNR described a public‑private feral‑hog management pilot proposed at $500,000 and outlined three program delivery models used so far by soil and water conservation districts: district‑led eradication with provided traps, trap‑rental programs, and outreach/education. DNR reported its partners and districts removed roughly 5,210 hogs and, with task‑force efforts, put the combined recent removal total at over 13,000 — a fraction of the agency’s statewide estimate of about 600,000 feral hogs. The agency emphasized the pilot would test digital locating technologies used elsewhere and expand trap capacity and contractor engagement.
Why it matters: committee approval of the Outdoor Stewardship proposals moves grant notifications forward; the DNR bond and pilot requests would expand the agency’s capacity to respond to wildfires and agricultural nuisance species and fund capital maintenance across state parks and facilities.
What comes next: the DNR asked the Senate for favorable consideration of the bond items; staff committed to supply project specifics and cost estimates where not provided on the slides.
Source: DNR presentation and committee vote (SEG 535–SEG 696; SEG 697–SEG 830).
The chair moved to accept the proposals and, after a motion and second, committee members voted in favor. A committee aide stated the acceptance is the final step to notify recipients of program awards.
DNR representative told the committee the agency is recommending several bond‑funded capital projects for FY27, including $4.94 million for replacement vehicles and emergency equipment (with $1.25 million to Environmental Protection Division) and $16.91 million for facility improvements statewide, with $1.25 million to EPD and the remainder for other DNR divisions. The agency said those funds would support vehicles, aerial ignition drones and renovations to statewide facilities.
Feral hogs featured in the presentation. DNR described a public‑private feral‑hog management pilot proposed at $500,000 and outlined three program delivery models used so far by soil and water conservation districts: district‑led eradication with provided traps, trap‑rental programs, and outreach/education. DNR reported its partners and districts removed roughly 5,210 hogs and, with task‑force efforts, put the combined recent removal total at over 13,000 — a fraction of the agency’s statewide estimate of about 600,000 feral hogs. The agency emphasized the pilot would test digital locating technologies used elsewhere and expand trap capacity and contractor engagement.
Why it matters: committee approval of the Outdoor Stewardship proposals moves grant notifications forward; the DNR bond and pilot requests would expand the agency’s capacity to respond to wildfires and agricultural nuisance species and fund capital maintenance across state parks and facilities.
What comes next: the DNR asked the Senate for favorable consideration of the bond items; staff committed to supply project specifics and cost estimates where not provided on the slides.
Source: DNR presentation and committee vote (SEG 535–SEG 696; SEG 697–SEG 830).
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