HB 1492: Hampton City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption

This bill creates a special homestead exemption for the City of Hampton, exempting long-time residents from paying any city (municipal) property taxes on their primary home. To qualify, a person must have lived in the home as their primary residence within the City of Hampton for five years or more. The exemption covers the full assessed value of the homestead, meaning the resident would owe no city property tax on that home, though the property can include up to five contiguous acres. Residents must apply once with the city to claim the exemption, though it renews automatically each year after that. The exemption does not apply to state, county, or school property taxes, only city taxes. Because it changes tax law, the bill needed a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and must also be approved by Hampton voters in a November 2026 referendum before taking effect on January 1, 2027.

• Creates a homestead exemption that eliminates 100% of City of Hampton municipal property taxes for qualifying homeowners.
• Requires a homeowner to have lived in the home as a primary residence in Hampton for at least five years to qualify.
• Requires residents to file a one-time application with the city, after which the exemption renews automatically each year.
• Limits the exemption to city (municipal) taxes only, leaving state, county, and school property taxes unaffected.
• Requires the exemption to be approved by Hampton voters in a November 2026 referendum before it can take effect.
• Automatically repeals the whole Act if voters reject it or if the required election is not held.

Long-term homeowners in the City of Hampton who have lived there five years or more, the City of Hampton government and its tax collection process, and Hampton voters, who must approve the change in a November 2026 referendum before it can take effect.

Qualifying Hampton homeowners would stop paying city property taxes on their homes entirely, shifting the city's tax base and likely requiring the city to raise revenue elsewhere or reduce services, while newer residents without five years of tenure would still pay full municipal property tax.

• Section 1 defines the exemption to cover the full assessed value of a qualifying homestead, including up to five contiguous acres, for residents living in Hampton five years or more.
• Section 1(c) requires an application to the city governing authority, though residents with five years on an existing homestead exemption are automatically enrolled without applying.
• Section 1(e) limits the exemption to municipal taxes only, excluding state, county, and school property taxes, and replaces rather than adds to other municipal homestead exemptions.
• Section 1(f) sets the exemption to apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
• Section 2 requires the Act to pass by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the General Assembly under the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 requires a referendum in Hampton on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with the Act taking effect January 1, 2027 only if approved.
• Section 3 provides that if voters reject the measure or the election is not held, the Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 570
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)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-078)

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
• City of Hampton
• local referendum
• Henry County