HR250: HR250 Local government; adopt an alternative method of appraisal and assessment of real property located within the county for taxation; provide - CA

Georgia currently reassesses real property value each year through county appraisals, which taxpayers can appeal. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment letting a county or consolidated government's governing authority adopt an alternative system in which a property's taxable value is based on its most recent sale price rather than annual reappraisal. Under the alternative method, a property's value would stay fixed at its most recent purchase price and would only change when the property is sold again or gets a substantial improvement, defined as construction, additions, or replacements that raise fair market value by more than $50,000. Counties would adopt or repeal this method by ordinance or resolution, possibly with a local referendum, and could not repeal it within five years of adoption. If approved by the General Assembly's required process, Georgia voters statewide would vote yes or no on ratifying this constitutional change.

• Proposes a constitutional amendment letting county governing authorities adopt an alternative property tax appraisal method based on sale price instead of annual reappraisal.
• Sets the alternative method's starting value as the fair market value shown on the tax digest as of January 1 following adoption, then locks it to the most recent purchase price.
• Defines a substantial improvement, which can trigger reappraisal, as construction or additions increasing fair market value by more than $50,000.
• Requires counties to apply the method uniformly to all real property and assess it at the same rate as other taxable property in the county.
• Bars a county from revoking the alternative method within five years of it taking effect.
• Sends the proposed amendment to Georgia voters statewide for ratification or rejection by ballot.

County and consolidated government authorities, county tax assessors and boards of equalization, property owners and homebuyers whose taxable value would depend on purchase price rather than annual appraisal, and Georgia voters who would decide the constitutional amendment at the ballot.

If adopted by a county and ratified statewide, a homeowner's property tax value could stay flat for years after purchase instead of rising with annual reappraisals, changing tax bills, appeal rights, and county revenue predictability differently than under the current system.

• Section 1 states legislative findings that a sale-price-based method could reduce appeals, administrative costs, and pressure on the valuation process, and address gentrification concerns.
• Section 2 amends Article VII, Section I, Paragraph III of the Georgia Constitution to authorize counties to adopt this alternative appraisal method by ordinance or resolution, possibly with a referendum.
• Section 2 sets the initial value at the January 1 fair market value following adoption, then ties future value to the most recent purchase price unless a substantial improvement over $50,000 occurs.
• Section 2 requires uniform application of the method to all real property in the county and equal assessment rates with other taxable property.
• Section 2 prohibits a county from revoking the method within five years of its effective date.
• Section 3 sets the ballot language asking voters whether to ratify the constitutional amendment statewide.

1. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2025-02-18House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-13House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-12House Hopper (House)

• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)Primary sponsor
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)

• property taxes
• local government
• constitutional amendment
• tax assessment
• county government