Policy Priorities
Policy Priorities
The Forest Landowners Association advocates for federal policies supporting family forest owners, who manage the majority of U.S. forests. We collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders on tax, property rights, disaster recovery, and market access initiatives.
Our Policy Focus Areas:
Private Property Rights
We defend private property rights and landowner flexibility. This promotes forest health, wildlife habitats, environmental quality, and job creation – all vital to our nation.
Market Access
We support policies to enhance timber market access for landowners, both domestically and globally. We also promote their entry into emerging markets, fostering economic sustainability and effective forest management.
Regulatory Policies
We fight for regulatory policies that do not impose undue economic burdens on forest landowners.
Tax Certainty
We advocate for fair, consistent federal tax policies that enable private forest landowners to maintain practices yielding vital economic and environmental benefits.
Disaster Recovery
We support policies to enhance timber market access for landowners, both domestically and globally. We also promote their entry into emerging markets, fostering economic sustainability and effective forest management.
While these are our primary focus areas, we remain committed to collaborating with partner organizations on additional initiatives to ensure the health and resiliency of our forests.
FLA Policy News:
FLA Statement on Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The Forest Landowners Association appreciates the inclusion of several important provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that will provide much-needed certainty for multi-generational forest landowners and family-owned forestry businesses across the country. Key tax-related measures in the legislation that support the long-term viability of private working forests include: These provisions provide the long-term…
President Trump Issues Executive Order to Modernize Wildfire Response and Prevention
On June 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a pivotal Executive Order titled Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response, aimed at overhauling the federal government’s approach to wildfire management. The directive seeks to strengthen coordination across agencies, promote innovative technologies, and enhance the effectiveness of wildfire prevention and response nationwide. Under the Executive Order, the…
USDA Rescinds Roadless Rule, Boosting Active Forest Management
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially rescinded the Roadless Rule, a decades-old regulation that restricted road construction and timber harvesting on National Forest System lands. This move marks a significant step toward restoring balance to forest management policies and supporting the communities and private landowners who neighbor federally managed forests. Originally implemented in…
Senator Cassidy Presses Treasury Secretary on Timber Tax Fix, Advancing Disaster Reforestation Act
At a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) once again championed the needs of private forest landowners by highlighting a longstanding issue: landowners impacted by natural disasters are often unable to deduct the true value of their destroyed timber. This tax inequity places a heavy burden on family forestry businesses working…
FLA’s Statement on House Passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
FLA applauds the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which contains key provisions that support family forest landowners and the economic backbone of Rural America. However, with wildfire and hurricane seasons already upon us, forest landowners remain dangerously exposed when disaster strikes. We urge the Senate to act…
Forest Landowners Association Leads Coalition Urging Congress to Include Disaster Reforestation Act in Budget Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON, DC – The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) has led a coalition of more than 75 state and national organizations in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging the inclusion of the Disaster Reforestation Act in the upcoming budget reconciliation package. The broad coalition represents key sectors of agriculture, business, conservation, forestry, and other stakeholders…