Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1087: Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act; enact
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Tabled
House Bill 1087 would stop Georgia counties and cities from charging disabled veterans building fees for home modifications needed because of their disability.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia disabled veterans who need to modify their homes to accommodate their disability, such as adding ramps or widening doorways, currently can be charged local building fees including permit, plan review, inspection, and reinspection fees. These fees can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. House Bill 1087, called the Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act, adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-80-32) that bars counties, municipalities, and other local government entities from charging these fees to a certified disabled veteran when the home improvements are needed because of the veteran's disability. Veterans must apply to the commissioner of veterans service for certification, and that office can require documentation to verify disability status. The bill does not remove any requirement to file applications or paperwork with local governments; it only waives the fees tied to that process.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 36-80-32) barring local governments from charging disabled veterans certain building-related fees for disability home modifications.
- Defines 'disabled veteran' by cross-referencing an existing property tax exemption statute (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-48).
- Creates a certification process through the commissioner of veterans service, who can require documentation before issuing proof of disabled veteran status.
- Waives permit fees, plan review or examination fees, inspection fees, reinspection fees, and other similar fees tied to accessibility improvements.
- Keeps in place any existing requirement to submit applications, forms, or documentation to local governments; only the fees are waived, not the paperwork.
Who it affects
Disabled veterans in Georgia who need home modifications for accessibility, the state commissioner of veterans service, who runs the new certification process, and county and municipal building departments, which would no longer be allowed to collect certain fees from certified disabled veterans.
Why it matters
Disabled veterans making accessibility upgrades to their homes could avoid fees that sometimes total hundreds or thousands of dollars, lowering the cost of modifications like ramps, widened doors, or bathroom changes. Local governments would lose that fee revenue for these specific projects.
Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill the 'Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act.'
- Section 2 lays out legislative findings that disabled veterans face costly building fees for disability-related home modifications.
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 36-80-32, defining 'disabled veteran' by reference to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-48 and setting up certification through the commissioner of veterans service.
- Section 3(c) prohibits charging certified disabled veterans building permit, plan review, plan examination, inspection, and reinspection fees for disability-related home improvements.
- Section 3(d) clarifies that veterans still must submit any required applications or documentation, along with their certification, even though fees are waived.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Any disabled veteran who is certified by the commissioner of veterans service as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section shall not be charged any building fees, including permit fees, plan review or plan examination fees, inspection fees, reinspection fees, or other fees required in order to make improvements to the residence of such disabled veteran”
Discussed in meetings (15)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee, February 11, 2026
From 0:12:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would waive local permit fees for disabled veterans renovating their homes to accommodate a disability. Asked what disability rating would qualify, the sponsor said any rating would qualify if the improvements addressed that disability. Another committee member asked whether local governments and the Georgia Municipal Association had been consulted. The sponsor reported receptive conversations with local mayors, council members and other municipal representatives, but did not report direct consultation with the association. A third member asked whether the waiver could cover a development containing several homes for disabled veterans. The sponsor said the bill was intended for homeowners, not developers or landlords, and suggested addressing those situations in a separate measure. A witness for Georgia Realtors supported the bill, saying it would reduce financial burdens and help veterans obtain needed accommodations in their homes. After a motion, second and voice vote, the chair announced that the bill passed. No vote count was stated.
House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:29:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would waive permit fees for home modifications made to accommodate a disability for veterans who meet the Department of Veterans Service definition of a disabled veteran. No questions or decision followed.
House floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27, PM, part 1)
From 3:06:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1918
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would exempt disabled veterans from permit and building fees for home modifications needed to accommodate their disabilities. A member supported the measure and asked about extending the exemption to all Georgians with disabilities. The sponsor offered to work on future legislation, explaining that veterans already have a disability certification process through federal and state veterans agencies. The House passed the bill 173-0.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 0:34:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1881
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee added HB 1087 to the day's supplemental calendar under modified structured rules without stated opposition. No provisions were discussed.
Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee, March 17, 2026
From 0:27:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1087 would waive construction permit fees for home improvements accommodating a disability when the veteran meets the eligibility definition in state law and is certified by the Department of Veterans Services. In response to a member’s question, the sponsor confirmed that the exemption concerned the veteran’s personal home. Asked whether other states had similar provisions and whether the Department of Defense requested the bill, the sponsor said they were unaware of other states’ policies and that this was not a department request. Several members expressed support. The committee approved the bill by voice vote without audible opposition.
Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026
From 0:14:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the bill would waive permit fees for disabled veterans making home improvements to accommodate a disability. No separate vote or scheduling decision was recorded.
Senate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026
From 0:17:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would exempt disabled veterans from permit fees for home improvements made to accommodate a disability. No questions or calendar decision followed.
Senate Rules Committee, March 23, 2026
From 0:15:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1087 would waive permit fees when disabled veterans modify their homes to accommodate their disabilities. No questions or vote followed.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:48:09 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1087 would waive permit fees when disabled veterans modify their homes to accommodate a disability. A member asked whether eligibility required a service-connected disability or could include a disability acquired after military service. The sponsor said the Department of Veterans Service would certify eligibility as for other benefits. Another speaker said disabled-veteran status required a service disability. A member selected it, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 2, 2026 (legislative day 10), 0:39:56
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11), 0:36:45
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:57:56
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, part 1), 0:38:58
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:34:52
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:45:47
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (10 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Josh Bonner (R, HD-73)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
- Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)
- Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
- David Jenkins (R, HD-136)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2026
173 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- disabled veterans
- property and building fees
- home accessibility
- local government fees
- veterans services