HB 1440: Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act; enact

This bill creates a homestead exemption from Bryan County school district property taxes for education. Instead of a fixed dollar exemption, it works by freezing the taxable value: homeowners would only pay school taxes based on a 'base year' assessed value, even if their home's assessed value rises later. For most homeowners the base year is tax year 2026, though people already receiving a similar exemption from a 2025 Bryan County law or from a related statewide code section keep their existing base year and are automatically enrolled without a new application. The exemption does not cover new improvements or added land, and it does not apply to state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes, only Bryan County school district taxes. Because it changes property tax law, the Georgia Constitution requires the bill to pass by two-thirds vote in both chambers, which it did, and it also requires Bryan County voters to approve it in a November 2026 referendum before it takes effect on January 1, 2027. If voters reject it, the law repeals itself automatically.

• Creates a homestead exemption that freezes the taxable value of a home for Bryan County school district property taxes at a 'base year' amount, exempting any increase in assessed value above that.
• Sets the base year as tax year 2026 for most new applicants, while people already receiving a similar exemption under a 2025 Bryan County law or O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2 keep their prior base year.
• Requires homeowners to apply once with the Bryan County tax commissioner, after which the exemption renews automatically each year as long as they keep living in the home.
• Excludes new improvements and additional land added after the base year from the exemption, and adjusts the base value downward if land is removed from the homestead.
• Requires a November 2026 referendum of Bryan County school district voters before the exemption can take effect on January 1, 2027, with automatic repeal if voters reject it or no election is held.
• Allows a surviving spouse who continues to live in the home to keep receiving the exemption.

Homeowners in the Bryan County school district who claim a homestead exemption, the Bryan County tax commissioner's office, the Bryan County election superintendent, and residents who will vote on the referendum in November 2026. It does not affect independent school districts, cities, the county government's other taxes, or the state.

If approved by voters, homeowners in the Bryan County school district would see their school property tax bill based on their home's 2026 assessed value rather than rising with future reassessments, potentially saving money as home values climb, while school tax revenue growth from existing homes would be limited to new construction and added land.

• Section 2(a) defines 'ad valorem taxes for educational purposes,' 'base year,' and 'homestead' (up to five contiguous acres), tying eligibility to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-40.
• Section 2(b) grants the exemption equal to the difference between current year and base year assessed value, excluding new improvements or added land.
• Section 2(c) requires a one-time application with the Bryan County tax commissioner, except for people already receiving a similar exemption under the 2025 Bryan County law or O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2, who are automatically enrolled.
• Section 2(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to Bryan County school district taxes, not state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes, and stacks on top of other exemptions.
• Section 2(f) sets the exemption's start date as taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
• Section 3 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate under the Georgia Constitution's tax provisions.
• Section 4 requires a Bryan County school district referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject it or no election occurs.
• Section 5 sets the Act's effective date as upon the Governor's approval, except for the referendum provisions in Section 4.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 564
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-12Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-10House Passed/Adopted (House)

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

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 10, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #693

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 18, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #728

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