Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 19, 2012

Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide an exemption from the additional estate tax for the disposition or severance of standing timber on a qualified woodland for timber that is harvested consistent with a written forest management plan or under professional guidance, and (2) increase from $750,000 to $5 million the limitation on the reduction in the fair market value of real property used for farming or in another trade or business for estate tax purposes.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Black, Diane [R-TN-6] · R–TN

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

23 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Sep 19, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Sep 19, 2012
Introduced in House
Sep 19, 2012
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 19, 2012 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.6439 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.6439, 112th Congress: Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/6439

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-09-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr6439/BILLS-112hr6439ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.6439 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.6439 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6439, 112th Congress: Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/6439

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-09-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr6439/BILLS-112hr6439ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6439 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.6439 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6439, 112th Congress: Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/6439

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-09-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr6439/BILLS-112hr6439ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6439 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.6439 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6439, 112th Congress: Keep the Forest in the Family Estate Tax Act of 2012

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/6439

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-09-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr6439/BILLS-112hr6439ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:18:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6439 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.