HB 848: Polk County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

Right now Polk County school district residents pay ad valorem (property) taxes for education based on their home's assessed value, with existing homestead exemptions applying in some cases. This bill would add a new tiered senior homestead exemption on top of those. Homeowners age 65 to 69 would get the greater of 50 percent or $60,000 off their home's assessed value for school tax purposes. Those 70 to 76 would get the greater of 75 percent or $80,000 off. Those 77 and older would have their full home value exempted, up to a $500,000 fair market value cap. For 2026 only, the total amount of these exemptions countywide is capped at $150 million; if claims exceed that, each senior's exemption is reduced proportionally. The exemption does not apply to state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes. Because it changes local tax law, the bill needed a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and must still be approved by Polk County school district voters in a November 2025 referendum before taking effect January 1, 2026.

• Creates a new homestead exemption from Polk County school district property taxes for residents 65 and older, scaled up at ages 70 and 77.
• Sets the exemption at the greater of 50 percent or $60,000 of assessed value for ages 65 to 69, and 75 percent or $80,000 for ages 70 to 76.
• Exempts the full assessed value of the home (up to $500,000 fair market value) for residents 77 and older.
• Caps total exemptions claimed under the Act at $150 million in calendar year 2026, reducing each senior's exemption proportionally if claims exceed that cap.
• Requires residents to apply through the Polk County tax commissioner, with automatic annual renewal once approved.
• Requires a countywide referendum in November 2025, with the exemption taking effect only if voters approve it and the law repealing itself automatically if they do not.

Senior homeowners age 65 and older living in the Polk County school district, who could see reduced school property tax bills; the Polk County tax commissioner and election superintendent, who must administer applications and run the referendum; and the Polk County school district, which would collect less in exempted property tax revenue.

If approved by voters, qualifying senior homeowners in the Polk County school district would pay substantially less, or nothing, in school property taxes, with the break increasing as they age. The temporary $150 million cap in 2026 means very high total claims could shrink individual exemptions proportionally that year.

• Section 1 defines the exemption tiers by age (65, 70, and 77) and sets the dollar or percentage amounts and the $500,000 fair market value cap for the full exemption.
• Section 1(b)(4) caps total exemptions claimed under the Act at $150 million for calendar year 2026 and directs proportional reductions if claims exceed that amount.
• Section 1(c) and (d) require applications through the Polk County tax commissioner and provide for automatic annual renewal without refiling.
• Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to Polk County school district taxes for educational purposes, not state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the General Assembly for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 requires a Polk County school district referendum in November 2025, with the exemption effective January 1, 2026 if approved, and automatic repeal 365 days after the election if rejected or not held.
• Section 4 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or becoming law without it, except as provided in Section 3.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date
2. 2025-05-14Act 347
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Trey Kelley (R, HD-16)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (10 not voting, 5 excused)

   Local Calendar Without HBs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   55 yea, 1 nay

   SUPPLEMENTAL LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #400

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• Polk County
• senior citizens
• school funding