HB741: HB741 Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act; enact

Bryan County homeowners currently pay school district property taxes based on their home's full assessed value each year, which can rise as property values increase. This bill, called the Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act, would exempt from Bryan County school district taxes any increase in a homestead's assessed value above what it was in the year before the exemption was first granted (the 'base year'). The exemption would not cover new improvements or added land, and it would be recalculated if property is removed from the homestead. Homeowners would need to apply once with the Bryan County tax commissioner, and the exemption would then renew automatically as long as they keep living there; a surviving spouse could keep it too. The exemption would not affect state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes. Because it changes a local tax structure, the bill requires a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and approval by Bryan County voters in a November 2025 referendum before taking effect January 1, 2026.

• Grants Bryan County homeowners an exemption from school district property taxes equal to any increase in assessed value above the base year amount.
• Excludes new improvements or added land from the exemption, so those increases in value remain taxable.
• Requires homeowners to file a one-time application with the Bryan County tax commissioner, after which the exemption renews automatically each year.
• Allows a surviving spouse to keep receiving the exemption as long as they continue living in the home.
• Requires a Bryan County referendum in November 2025; the exemption only takes effect if voters approve it, otherwise the whole Act is automatically repealed.

Homeowners who live in the Bryan County school district and claim a homestead exemption, the Bryan County tax commissioner's office, the Bryan County election superintendent, and the Bryan County school district, which would collect less in ad valorem tax revenue on properties with rising values.

If approved by voters, Bryan County homeowners would see their school tax bills based on a frozen assessed value from the year they first qualified, rather than rising with their home's current value, shielding them from tax increases tied to appreciation while new construction or added land would still be taxed normally.

• Section 2 defines 'base year' as the year before a homeowner first receives the exemption and limits the exemption to homesteads of five acres or less.
• Section 2(b) sets the exemption amount as the difference between the current year assessed value and the base year assessed value.
• Section 2(c) and (d) require a one-time application with the Bryan County tax commissioner, with automatic annual renewal and continuation for a surviving spouse.
• Section 2(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to Bryan County school district taxes, not state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes.
• Section 3 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 4 calls for a Bryan County referendum in November 2025; if voters reject it or no election occurs, the Act is automatically repealed 365 days after the election date.
• Section 2(f) and Section 4 set January 1, 2026 as the effective date for the exemption if approved by voters.

1. 2025-05-09Effective Date 2025-05-09
2. 2025-05-09Act 96
3. 2025-05-09House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2025

   171 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #279

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #291

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• Bryan County
• school district funding
• local referendum