MFA - Government Affairs

MFA Government Affairs

MFA seeks to maintain a political and economic climate in Mississippi and in the United States that is conducive to the development and wise use of forest resources for the long-term benefit of all.

Mississippi Forestry Association is Mississippi’s voice of forestry in national issues and in the Mississippi legislature. Issues such as the protection of private property rights, water quality, transportation, taxation, reforestation incentive programs, timber harvesting, and environmental regulation are of interest to Mississippi’s forestry community.

Through its publications, programs, and advocacy, MFA raises awareness of political and legal issues affecting sustainable forest management and timber harvesting.

MFA monitors thousands of bills introduced each year in the Mississippi legislature, and alerts members to legislation affecting the forestry community. In recent years, MFA's lobbying efforts and members have been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation, including:

2006	Focused on disaster relief and hurricane recovery for the entire forestry community after Hurricane Katrina. Worked to pass three federal forestry disaster relief programs: Emergency Conservation Program; the Emergency Watershed Protection Program; and the Emergency Forestry Conservation Reserve Program totaling over $1 billion. Worked to pass the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 with tax provisions for small businesses and private forest landowners. Worked to merge the MS Institute for Forest Inventory (MIFI, created in 2002) with the MS Forestry Commission. *Successfully opposed legislation that would have required the exclusive adoption of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system program, and that discriminated against the Tree Farm and Sustainable Forestry Initiative programs.
2005	For the third year in a row, successfully exempted forest landowners from unlimited ad valorem taxation authority and user fees to fund a proposed Stormwater Management District in Harrison County Passed legislation to provide limited immunity from criminal trespass for MIFI foresters conducting forest inventory on private lands. After Hurricane Katrina, worked with MDOT to increase truck weight limits up to 95,000 pounds for transporting damaged timber. Worked with US Congress to pass hurricane disaster relief funding for forest landowners after Hurricane Katrina.
2004	Passed a new Timber Theft statute requiring payment to timber owners within 30 days of harvest. Established mandatory payment of restitution to victims of timber theft and granted specific authority to the Agricultural Theft Bureau. Reenacted the Foresters Registration and Pulpwood Scaling Practices laws * MDOT issued a Temporary Order of Authority to transport timber damaged by Hurricane Ivan in September in Alabama and Florida into Mississippi, allowing up to a maximum of 95,000 pounds gross vehicle weight per truck.
2003	Passed a conservation easement tax credit for landowners who participate in the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program or whose land is located along streams nominated to the Mississippi Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. An additional $10,000,000 in bond funding was provided to the Mississippi Land, Water, and Timber Resources Fund. This fund, governed by a board of directors, invests capital in forestry and agriculture-related economic development projects. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove’s forestry resolution was unanimously adopted by the Southern Governors Association. Calling on Congress and Pres. George W. Bush to enact financial incentives to help “keep working forests working,” this resolution, supported by MFA, highlighted the importance of the forest products industry to the South’s economy. The Legislature granted the issuance of a special Mississippi vehicle license tag for forestry.
2002	Passed the Forestry Economic Development and Strategic Planning Act, which created the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory. Successfully defended the Board of Registration for Foresters law and amended it to grant the Board appeals investigation power.
2001	Enhanced forestry economic development efforts with $10 million in bond finding for the MS Land, Water, and Timber Resources Fund. Participated in a task force to develop a strategic initiative for forest-based economic development created by Lt. Governor Amy Tuck.
2000	Assisted the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce in amending the criminal statutes regarding timber theft. Assisted the Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters in amending the licensing law.
1999	Secured $200,000 in legislative funding for the MSU College of Forest Resources to conduct a pilot project using satellite imagery to inventory the forests in a four county area. Passed legislation to increase the statute of limitations under the timber trespass law. Passed legislation to increase the load width for trucks carrying certain forest products. Secured funding for a new Extension Service area forestry specialist position in northeast Mississippi to serve CFAs. *Passed landmark legislation creating a reforestation income tax credit for private landowners. This legislation was awarded the most outstanding new state forestry legislation by the National Woodland Owners Association. Mississippi is the only state to ever receive this award twice in one decade.
1994–98	Passed the Mississippi Forestry Activities Act. Secured funding to create a Cooperative Extension Service logger education program under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Passed a new timber Weights & Measures law. Secured $500,000 in legislative funding to supplement the Forest Resource Development Program, a state cost share tree planting incentive program for private landowners. *Secured legislative funding for a new forestry tax specialist position in the Extension Service to support MFA’s network of CFAs.
1989-93	Amended the forest fire acreage tax to purchase forest fire suppression equipment for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Passed the Mississippi Prescribed Burning Act.