Georgia voters will decide in 2026 on a constitutional amendment to increase the maximum acreage of agricultural and timber property that can be classified as bona fide conservation use property. Under the amendment, the maximum acreage would be increased from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres.

Bona fide conservation use property, under the state’s Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA), is taxed at 40% of the land’s value rather than market value based on current use, annual productivity, and real property sales data. Property owners must enter into a covenant to maintain conservation use for at least 10 years. A breach of the covenant would result in the recapture of tax savings and other penalties.

CUVA was established following voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1990. It was approved with 62% of voters in favor and 38% opposed. If voters approve the measure, it would be the first acreage limit increase since the program was established.

In Georgia, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment must receive a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the state legislature before being placed on the ballot.

The amendment was sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-104). It was introduced as House Resolution 32 on January 16, 2025. On March 6, 2025, the House passed the amendment by a vote of 168-5. Among House Republicans, 99 were in favor and none were opposed. Among House Democrats, 69 were in favor and five were opposed. On March 18, 2025, the Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 50-1. Among Senate Republicans, 30 were in favor and one was opposed. All 20 Senate Democrats voted to pass the amendment.

In Georgia, a total of 136 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots during even-numbered years between 1986 and 2024. Of that number, 109 ballot measures were approved, and 27 ballot measures were defeated.