SB334: SB334 City of Trion; independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes; provide a homestead exemption

This bill would let homeowners within the City of Trion independent school district freeze the assessed value of their home for school property tax purposes at a base year level, so that as home values rise, they would not pay school taxes on that increase. The exemption would not apply to new improvements or added land, and it would not affect state, county, or municipal taxes, only City of Trion school district taxes for education. Homeowners would have to apply once with the city government to get the exemption, and it would then renew automatically as long as they keep living there. Because the bill changes local tax law, Georgia's constitution requires it to pass by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, and it also must be approved by City of Trion voters in a November 2025 referendum. If voters approve it, the exemption starts January 1, 2026; if not, the whole act is automatically repealed about a year after the election.

• Grants homeowners in the City of Trion school district an exemption on any increase in their home's assessed value above a fixed base year value, for school tax purposes only.
• Excludes new home improvements or added land from the frozen value, so those additions remain taxable.
• Requires homeowners to file a one time application with the City of Trion government to claim the exemption, after which it renews automatically each year.
• Requires a citywide referendum in November 2025 before the exemption can take effect, and requires a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly for the bill itself.
• Automatically repeals the entire act 365 days after the election if voters reject it or if the election is not held as required.

Homeowners who live in the City of Trion independent school district and claim a homestead exemption there, the City of Trion municipal government and election superintendent, who must run the referendum and process applications, and the school district that collects the affected property taxes.

If approved by voters, homeowners in Trion would see their school property tax bills grow more slowly as home values rise, since only the base year value would be taxed. The school district's local tax revenue growth from rising home values could be limited as a result.

• Section 1 defines key terms including 'base year' and limits the homestead exemption to homes with up to five contiguous acres.
• Section 1(b) sets the exemption amount as the difference between the current year and base year assessed value of the homestead, adjusted if property is removed from the homestead.
• Section 1(c) and (d) require a one-time application with the City of Trion government, with automatic annual renewal as long as eligibility continues.
• Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to City of Trion independent school district taxes, not state, county, or municipal taxes, and stacks with other homestead exemptions.
• Section 1(f) sets the exemption to apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 requires a City of Trion referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject it or the election fails to occur.
• Section 4 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval, except for the referendum provisions in Section 3.

1. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
4. 2025-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-03-13Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-03-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Colton Moore (R, SD-053)Primary sponsor

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #250

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• Trion Georgia
• school district taxes
• local referendum