Georgia CommonsHB 1387: Ad valorem tax; state-wide homestead exemption in an amount as determined from proceeds generated from collection of certain ad valorem property taxes on data centers
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 24, 2026 · Introduced
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Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 1387
By: Representatives Gullett of the 19th, Momtahan of the 17th, and Thomas of the 21st
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions and deferral, so as to provide for a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount as determined from the proceeds generated from the collection of certain ad valorem property taxes on data centers; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for contingent repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions and deferral, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"48-5-44.3.
(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Ad valorem taxes' means all ad valorem taxes levied by, for, or on behalf of the state or any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school district in this state, except for any ad valorem taxes levied to pay interest on and to retire bonded indebtedness.
(2) 'Base year' means the taxable year beginning on January 1 immediately following the first opening of a data center in this state or tax year 2027, whichever is later.
(3) 'Data center' means:
(A) A structure, group of structures, or infrastructure within an existing structure for the central housing, interconnection and operation of information technology, and network telecommunications equipment for the provision of data storage, data processing, or data transport services; and
(B) All related facilities and infrastructure for power distribution, environmental control, cooling, and security required to deliver the desired service with respect to the specific data center which are only connected to data center operation and would not have an impact on an electric grid.
(4) 'Homestead' means homestead as defined and qualified in Code Section 48-5-40, as amended.
(5) 'Tax official' means the tax receiver or tax commissioner of the respective local government or governments charged with the duty of receiving returns of property for taxation for administration of the homestead exemption provided for by this Code section.
(b)(1) Each resident of this state is granted an exemption on that person's homestead from ad valorem taxes in an amount authorized by and calculated pursuant to subsection
(c) of this Code section as determined by the tax official of his or her respective local government or governments charged with the duty of receiving returns of property for taxation, including any final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311.
(2) Except as provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section, no exemption provided for in this subsection shall transfer to any subsequent owner of the property, and the assessed value of the property shall be as provided by law.
(c)(1) In any tax year for which ad valorem property taxes are collected from one or more data centers located in the respective jurisdiction of a local government or governments of a county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school district in this state, the respective tax official shall determine the excess amount of ad valorem property tax collections for all such data centers by calculating the difference between the ad valorem property taxes collected from data centers in such tax year and the ad valorem property taxes collected from data centers in the base year.
(2) If the excess amount of ad valorem property tax collections from data centers is positive, the full value of such excess amount shall be segregated from all other proceeds of the ad valorem property tax collected in such tax year, and such funds shall be maintained to offset the cost of the exemption provided by this Code section in the next subsequent tax year. As soon as the tax digest for the next subsequent tax year is approved, the tax official shall calculate the equable proportional share of such excess amount to be applied to all properties receiving the exemption provided for by this Code section in such next subsequent tax year. The tax official shall then provide such excess amount from the previous tax year to the respective local governing authority of a county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school district to offset the cost of the homestead exemption provided by this Code section in such next subsequent tax year.
(3) If the excess amount of ad valorem property tax collections from data centers is negative, the value of the homestead exemption provided by this Code section for the next subsequent tax year shall be zero dollars.
(d) The surviving spouse of the person who has been granted the exemption provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section shall continue to receive the exemption provided under subsection (b) of this Code section, so long as such surviving spouse continues to occupy the residence as a homestead.
(e) A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this Code section unless such person or person's agent files an application with the tax official of his or her respective local government or governments charged with the duty of receiving returns of property for taxation giving such information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable such tax official to make a determination regarding the initial and continuing eligibility of such person for such exemption, or has already filed for and is receiving a homestead exemption and such existing application provides sufficient information to make such determination of eligibility. Such tax official shall provide application forms for this purpose.
(f) The homestead exemption provided in subsection (b) of this Code section shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1. Such exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year so long as the owner occupies the residence as a homestead. After a person or a person's agent has filed the proper application as provided in subsection (e) of this Code section, it shall not be necessary to make application thereafter for any year, and the exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It shall be the duty of any person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this Code section to notify the tax official of the appropriate local government or governments in the event such person for any reason becomes ineligible for such exemption.
(g) The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this Code section shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable to ad valorem taxes.
(h) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027."
SECTION 2.
In accordance with the requirements of Article VII, Section II of the Constitution of the State of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the requisite two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
SECTION 3.
The Secretary of State shall call and conduct an election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting Section 1 of this Act to the electors of the entire state for approval or rejection. The Secretary of State shall conduct such election no later than the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2026, and shall issue the call and conduct such election as provided by general law. The Secretary of State shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of each county in the state. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words:
"( ) YES Shall the Act be approved which provides a state-wide homestead ( ) NO exemption from ad valorem taxes of up to 100 percent as determined from the proceeds generated from the collection of certain ad valorem property taxes on data centers?"
All persons desiring to vote for approval of Section 1 of this Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring to vote for rejection of Section 1 of this Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of Section 1 of this Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full force and effect on January 1, 2027, only if an amendment to the Constitution to provide for local governments to have the option to offer a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to any amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the inflation rate from the adjusted base year value of such homestead as provided by general law is ratified by the voters at the November, 2026, state-wide general election. If such an amendment is not so ratified, then Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and shall stand repealed on January 1, 2027. If Section 1 of this Act is not so approved, if the election is not conducted, or if the constitutional amendment is not ratified as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and Section 1 of this Act shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following such election date. It shall be the duty of each county election superintendent to certify the results thereof to the Secretary of State.
SECTION 4.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.