SUMMARY:  This bill would amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of the O.C.G.A. to allow a landowner with property contiguous to existing property, even if it crosses a political boundary, a one-time chance to declare the tract as one property under one covenant.  Even if the code would require 2 separate covenants due to some provisions of the law, the contiguous property would be counted as part of the minimum 200 acre requirement.  The remainder of the bill deals with how penalties would be imposed if a violation occurs under the new allowance.

NOTE:  This bill would open possibilities for several tracts of land to be newly eligible for conservation land use exemptions and would further limit the abilities of local governments to raise revenue needed for basic services.