Memo of Support for May-Kelles bill

Memo of Support for May-Kelles bill

This bill would amend New York’s Real Property Tax Law, specifically the forest tax provisions of 480a, by broadening eligibility of private forest landowners to receive a reduction of up to 80% of taxable assessed valuation in exchange for permanent forest conservation. It reduces the minimum acreage eligible for forest conservation from 50 acres to 10 acres and expands certified forest land to include permanent conservation easements on lands exhibiting forest cover of at least 75%.

This bill would strongly boost New York State’s goals of sequestering and storing forest carbon and for conserving at least 30 % of New York’s forests and shorelines by 2030. The Statewide Open Space Conservation Plan has for decades encouraged reform of existing Forest Tax Law, 480a by expanding eligibility and incentives to conserve more forest cover throughout the state. Over time, the 386,000 acres currently enrolled statewide in 480a are static or declining due to the costly hurdles to wider enrollment which include forest management and harvesting requirements. There is exciting potential for a much broader forest tax program capable of enrolling hundreds of thousands of additional acres in permanent forest cover. This bill seeks to reach that greater potential.

The forest tax law program has failed to incentivize more landowners to maintain and restore lands in forest cover. As a result, 480a on its own has been insufficient to stem permanent conversion of forests to various forms of development. This legislation significantly broadens program eligibility required to receive the same reductions in taxable assessed valuation as currently exists under 480a. The bill encourages far more private landowners to protect forested lands through conservation easements. It also ensures that the expanded eligibility does not cost municipalities tax revenue. The bill broadens a program to balance tax benefits with landowner accountability and incentivizes long term conservation and stewardship of private forest lands to accelerate carbon storage and open space conservation objectives.

Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve enthusiastically endorses the bill and encourages passage in the current legislative session.

May 7, 2025
Contact: David Gibson, Managing Partner
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve
518-469-4081; [email protected]