HB 1533: Dalton Independent School System; remove the increased millage rate limitation

Since 2011, Georgia law has capped how high the Dalton Independent School System could raise its property tax rate (millage rate) beyond a limit set after 2012. This bill would remove that special cap entirely. In its place, the school system would follow the general maximum millage rate allowed under the Georgia Constitution (Article VIII, Section VI, Paragraph I(a)), which is generally higher than the current local cap. The change would not take effect automatically. The bill requires the City of Dalton's municipal election superintendent to hold a referendum on November 3, 2026, asking voters whether to approve the change. If a majority votes yes, the new rule takes effect January 1, 2027. If voters reject it or the election isn't held as required, the whole bill is automatically repealed 365 days after the scheduled election date. The bill also allows a court to order the election superintendent to hold the vote if they fail to do so.

• Removes the specific millage rate cap that has applied to the Dalton Independent School System since December 31, 2012.
• Replaces that cap with the general maximum property tax rate allowed under the Georgia Constitution for school systems.
• Requires a referendum in the City of Dalton on November 3, 2026, letting voters approve or reject the change.
• Sets the new rule to take effect January 1, 2027 only if voters approve it, and automatically repeals the entire Act if they don't.
• Allows any Dalton voter to seek a court order (writ of mandamus) forcing the election superintendent to hold the vote if they fail to do so.

Property owners within the Dalton Independent School System's taxing area, the Dalton city government and its municipal election superintendent, Whitfield County's official legal newspaper (which must publish election notices), and the school system itself, which depends on property tax revenue.

If voters approve it, the Dalton school system could raise property taxes above the level currently allowed, up to the general state constitutional limit, potentially increasing revenue for schools but also increasing tax bills for property owners in the district. If voters reject it, no change occurs and the bill expires.

• Section 1 revises subsection (b) of the 2011 Dalton school system Act, removing the fixed post-2012 millage cap and tying the maximum rate instead to the constitutional limit in Article VIII, Section VI, Paragraph I(a).
• Section 2 requires a referendum on November 3, 2026, with the ballot question asking whether to approve lowering the millage rate cap; approval triggers the change on January 1, 2027.
• Section 2 also makes the referendum mandatory, provides for court-ordered enforcement via mandamus if the election superintendent fails to act, and sets automatic repeal of the whole Act 365 days after the election if voters reject it or no election occurs.
• Section 3 makes the rest of the Act effective upon the Governor's signature or otherwise becoming law, except for the referendum-dependent Section 1.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-20House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-03-12House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-03-10House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-09House Hopper (House)

• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)Primary sponsor
• Steve Tarvin (R, HD-002)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

• property taxes
• Dalton schools
• school funding
• local referendum
• millage rate