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On Thursday, February 26th, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 164, a bill that gives billboard companies the ability to cut trees along Georgia rights of way. The bill is now before the House Transportation Committee.

In its current form, SB 164 would allow billboard companies to:

- Apply for permits from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) to remove all trees in a defined zone in front of billboards less than 75 feet in height. Billboards above 75 feet would be required to be lowered to 75 feet or less within 30 days after removing the trees.

- Pay the state a $4000 fee rather than DOT's appraised value of the trees and vegetation to be removed. However, SB 164 also allows the companies to deduct any costs associated with purchasing, installing and maintaining replacement landscaping meaning that it could result in little or no revenue to the state.

- Obtain permits to cut trees in front of billboards in 66 counties in Northwest Georgia, Northeast Georgia and East Central Georgia beginning July 1, 2009. Statewide permitting will be phased in by 2012.

Click 'send message' below to send a message to members of the House Transportation Committee urging them to act in the public interest over special interests by voting NO on SB 164.

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Your State Representative

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