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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation that will for the first time in 16 years raise the assessment private forest owners pay the state to make sure logging is done in a sustainable way and in compliance with Idaho laws is headed to Gov. Brad Little.
The Senate voted 28-7 on Wednesday to approve the legislation put forward by the Idaho Department of Lands. It has already cleared the House.
Department officials say the state is close to running out of money for activities involving the state's Forest Practices Act.
The state is asking lawmakers to raise the cap on the assessment, which is set in Idaho code, from 10 cents to 20 cents per acre (.4 hectare).
If the cap is increased, the Lands Department will recommend that the five-member Idaho Land Board boost the assessment from 10 cents to 13 cents an acre.
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