HB 1087: Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act; enact

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• 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-054)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   173 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #628

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #912

• disabled veterans
• property and building fees
• home accessibility
• local government fees
• veterans services