The Georgia Trust advocates for Historic Preservation in Georgia
Legislative Updates:
March 25, 2024:
Georgia Trust Successfully Spearheads Effort to Pass New Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Legislation
We are very pleased to announce that Senate Bill 496, which extends and expands the state’s historic rehabilitation tax credit program, passed the Senate on March 21, 2024.
Historic rehabilitation tax credits are directly responsible for the revitalization of many commercial buildings and historic homes in the State of Georgia each year. Going into this legislative session, the residential component of the program was threatened with extinction due to a “sunset” date at the end of the year. Additionally, the commercial component of the program was scheduled to end in 2027. To avert this catastrophe, The Georgia Trust and its preservation partners across the state worked with Representative Debbie Buckner to introduce legislation that extends both the commercial and residential programs through 2029 and expands the residential program to allow owners of locally designated properties that are certified by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to qualify for the income tax credits.
The new legislation will allow for even broader revitalization of our state’s important historic infrastructure. It will also create jobs, encourage investment in older neighborhoods, expand workforce housing opportunities and enable more owners of historic homes to rehabilitate their homes in a cost-effective manner. This benefits not only historic preservation in the State of Georgia, but also the economic development of our great state.
We would like to thank Representative Buckner, all of the legislators who acted in support of the bill, and all of you who contacted Representatives and Senators to help make the case for extending and expanding our very effective historic rehabilitation tax incentive program.
The Georgia Trust also would like to thank our preservation partners listed below:
Atlanta Preservation Center
Historic Augusta, Inc.
Historic Columbus Foundation
Historic Macon Foundation
Historic Savannah Foundation
Madison-Morgan Conservancy
Thomasville Landmarks
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
NewTown Macon
Briana Paxton
Cabretta Capital Corporation
Ray, Ellis & LaBrie Consulting
Ward Architecture + Preservation
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Pictured: Georgia Historic Tax Credits helped convert the Dixie Cotton Mills in LaGrange into housing, bringing in new energy to the neighborhood.
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February 29, 2024:
HOUSE BILL 1116 PASSES THE HOUSE!
House Bill 1116, which extends and expands Georgia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, has passed the House! The Georgia Trust has been spearheading this effort with partners around the state. This is such an important step in the process! THANK YOU to all who contacted their representatives.
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February 6, 2024:
A Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit bill was introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Historic rehabilitation tax credits are directly responsible for the revitalization of many commercial buildings and historic homes in the State of Georgia each year. Aside from the intrinsic value of saving historic structures, the State of Georgia Residential and Commercial Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program (HRTC) brings significant economic value to the state. Despite this fact, the program is currently threatened with extinction as the residential program is scheduled to expire this year and the commercial program will expire at the end of 2027.
To avert this catastrophe, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has drafted legislation that will extend both the commercial and residential programs through 2029. The legislation will also expand the residential program to allow locally designated properties that are certified by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to qualify for the tax credits. Additionally, the legislation will raise the aggregate and per project caps on commercial historic rehabilitation projects.
If passed, the new legislation will extend and expand Georgia’s existing historic rehabilitation tax program to allow for even broader revitalization of our state’s important historic infrastructure. The new legislation will also create jobs, encourage investment in older neighborhoods, expand low-income housing opportunities and enable more owners of historic homes to rehabilitate their houses in a cost-effective manner.
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Pictured: Georgia Historic Tax Credits provided a critical financial incentive for the historic preservation of the old Fort Valley High School, which was rehabilitated as affordable housing.
Georgians For Preservation Action
Since its founding in 1987, GaPA has advocated laws, programs, and policies that promote the preservation of Georgia’s historic resources by mobilizing grassroots preservationists across the state.
Among its activities, GaPA:
- Annually develops and advocates a legislative agenda that represents a consensus of the leaders of key preservation constituencies on preservation issues.
- Regularly communicates with historic preservation advocates about critical issues and legislation before the General Assembly.
- Provides GaPA members with information on national preservation issues with news from the National Trust and Preservation Action, the national lobbying arm for historic preservation.
Use the link above and select GaPA to sign up for email updates. Please note you will receive a follow up email to confirm your subscription.
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has coordinated GaPA since its founding, providing staff to administer the group; maintaining a presence and tracking legislation at the State Capitol during the General Assembly sessions; and ensuring communication among GaPA members.
GaPA has played a significant role in many of the hard-won legislative advances for preservation in Georgia including the creation of the Georgia Heritage grant program, property tax incentives for historic buildings, the creation of the Georgia Register of Historic Places, and the inclusion of preservation concerns in the Georgia Comprehensive Planning Act and the Georgia Environmental Policy Act.