---
title: HB 526. Ad valorem tax; extension of preferential assessment period for certain historic properties; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb526
cite_as: HB 526, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb526
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb526.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb526/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70506
date: 2025-04-04
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 249
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb526.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 526
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-19
last_action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted
sponsors:
  - Mark Newton
  - Ron Stephens
  - Debbie Buckner
  - Dale Washburn
  - Jesse Petrea
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB526/2025
upstream_id: 1976269
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - property taxes
  - historic preservation
  - local government
  - ad valorem taxation
---

# HB 526. Ad valorem tax; extension of preferential assessment period for certain historic properties; provide

## Text

25 LC 50 1200S
The House Committee on Ways and Means offers the following substitute to HB 526:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to general provisions relative to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide for2
an extension of preferential assessment periods for certain historic properties; to provide for3
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to7
general provisions relative to ad valorem taxation of property, is amended in Code8
Section 48-5-7.2, relating to preferential assessment for rehab ilitated historic property, by9
revising paragraph (4) of subsection (h) as follows:10
"(4) The expiration of nine years during which the property was classified and assessed11
as rehabilitated historic property; provided, however, that any such property may qualify12
thereafter as rehabilitated historic property if such property is subject to subsequent13
rehabilitation and qualifies under the provisions of this Code section; provided, further,14
that, if approved by the governing authority of the county, the classification and15
assessment under this Code section may continue for a period of up to an additional16
H. B. 526 (SUB)
- 1 -
25 LC 50 1200S
12 years for income-producing real property, and such property's fair market value shall17
continue to be calculated pursuant to division (3)(C)(ii) of Code Section 48-5-2 during18
such period."19
SECTION 2.20
Said article is further amended in Code Section 48-5-7.3, relating to preferential assessment21
for landmark historic property, by revising subparagraph (e)(1)(E) as follows:22
"(E) The expiration of nine years during which the property was classified and assessed23
as landmark historic property; provided, however, that any such property may qualify24
thereafter as landmark historic property if such property is su bject to subsequent25
rehabilitation and qualifies under other portions of the historic properties tax incentive26
program contained within the provisions of this Code section; provided, further, that,27
if approved by the governing authority of the county, the classification and assessment28
under this Code section may continue for a period of up to an a dditional 12 years for29
income-producing real property, and such property's fair market value shall continue30
to be calculated pursuant to division (3)(D)(ii) of Code Sectio n 48-5-2 during such31
period."32
SECTION 3.33
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.34
H. B. 526 (SUB)
- 2 -

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House bill would let county governments extend the special property tax assessment for rehabilitated historic buildings by up to 12 additional years, but only for properties that produce income.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia law currently gives owners of rehabilitated historic properties and landmark historic properties a preferential property tax assessment (a special, often lower valuation method) for nine years. After nine years, that special treatment normally ends unless the property undergoes new rehabilitation.
This bill amends two sections of Georgia's tax code (O.C.G.A. §§ 48-5-7.2 and 48-5-7.3) to let the county government where the property sits approve an extension of that preferential assessment for up to 12 more years, but only for income-producing real property. During the extension, the property's fair market value would still be calculated the same way it is now under the existing valuation formula in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-2. The bill does not change the rules for non-income-producing historic homes, which would still lose the preferential assessment after nine years unless newly rehabilitated.

### What it does

- Allows county governing authorities to approve up to 12 additional years of preferential tax assessment for income-producing rehabilitated historic property after the current nine-year period ends.
- Makes the same 12-year extension option available for income-producing landmark historic property under a separate code section.
- Keeps the existing fair market value calculation method in place during any extended assessment period.
- Leaves the nine-year expiration and rehabilitation requirement unchanged for historic properties that are not income-producing.

### Who it affects

Owners of income-producing rehabilitated or landmark historic properties, such as historic buildings converted to rental, retail, or commercial use, and county governing authorities, which would gain new discretion to grant these tax assessment extensions.

### Why it matters

Owners of income-producing historic buildings could keep a lower, more predictable property tax assessment for over a decade longer if their county approves it, potentially affecting local tax revenue and encouraging continued investment in historic commercial properties.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5-7.2 so county approval can extend the preferential assessment for rehabilitated historic income-producing property up to 12 years beyond the standard nine-year period.
- Section 1 specifies the property's fair market value during the extension is still calculated under division (3)(C)(ii) of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-2.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5-7.3 to apply the identical county-approved 12-year extension option to landmark historic income-producing property, using division (3)(D)(ii) of O.G.C.A. § 48-5-2 for valuation.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-02-19)
- Last action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (2025-04-04)
- Sponsors: Mark Newton, Ron Stephens, Debbie Buckner, Dale Washburn, Jesse Petrea
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70506

> The history, votes, and amendments (249 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb526.md?full=1