Georgia House passes SB 478 to extend conservation stewardship program through 2039

The Georgia House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 478, a measure supporters described as a long‑standing vehicle to fund statewide conservation projects, voting 163‑2 to advance the bill.

Chair Lynn Smith of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee told the chamber the measure strengthens a stewardship program that has protected public lands and recreational access. "This is a phenomenal bill that I'm presenting to you today," she said, praising the program's history and regional impact.

Representative Wilkerson, speaking in support, said the bill maintains the statutory chapter "in effect until 2039," a period she described as providing 13 years of certainty for local and regional conservation efforts.

The chamber adopted a committee substitute for the bill without recorded objection before voting. The clerk announced the passage with a roll‑call tally of yeas 163 and nays 2.

Supporters framed SB 478 as a bipartisan, voter‑backed stewardship approach with built‑in fiscal triggers to reduce expenditures if the economy weakens. Committee proponents said the mechanism had previously been approved as a constitutional amendment and has been used to acquire and protect land, including areas around the Okefenokee.

The House will transmit the measure as passed to the Senate (procedural next step) or proceed according to the legislative process for a Senate bill acting on concurrence with the committee substitute.

The House moved on to other business and recessed for lunch after completing the rules calendar.