The Georgia Trust advocates for Historic Preservation in Georgia

Legislative Updates:

March 6, 2024:

ADVOCACY ALERT
The Georgia Trust and our partners around the state continue to advocate for House Bill 1116, which will extend and expand Georgia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program. House Bill 1116 passed the Georgia House of Representatives last week with strong bipartisan support. Now we need your voice to help the issue gain traction in the State Senate.

The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program is a critical tool for Georgians to revitalize their communities, create vibrant downtowns, and preserve or create housing. Reach out to your State Senators today by sending an email with the language below urging them to support House Bill 1116.

Find Your Senator

Note: Input your address to find your legislators. State Senator is listed as Upper Chamber with a green dot. 

Sample Language

Subject: Support HB 1116 – Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits

Dear Senator _________,

I am writing today as a constituent from your district to urge you to support HB 1116, which extends and expands Georgia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program. The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program is the primary financial incentive for the revitalization of Georgia’s historic homes and buildings. Historic rehab tax credits represent an investment that will stay local and bring vacant buildings back into service. These credits are a critical tool for economic development and community revitalization. The tangible benefits are felt throughout local economies, while the intangible benefits are available to all Georgians who appreciate the history that is preserved.

The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program also makes good economic sense by returning more dollars to the state than credits expended and creating valuable jobs. This legislation is vitally important to the historic fabric of our state as well as our economy, and I hope you will vocally support its passage through the Senate. 

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

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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.

Subscribe to GaPA

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.