SB 334: City of Trion; independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes; provide a homestead exemption

This bill applies only to the City of Trion independent school district in Chattooga County. It would let homeowners there exempt from school property taxes any increase in their home's assessed value above what it was worth the year before they first got the exemption, a kind of value freeze often called a floating homestead exemption. The exemption covers up to five acres of homestead property and applies only to the school district's operating taxes, not to taxes paying off school bonds, county taxes, or municipal taxes. Homeowners must apply once through the City of Trion's governing authority, after which the exemption renews automatically as long as they still live there. Because this changes local tax law, the Georgia Constitution requires the bill to pass both chambers by a two-thirds vote, and it must also be approved by City of Trion voters in a November 2025 referendum. If approved, the exemption starts January 1, 2026; if rejected or no election is held, the entire Act automatically repeals a year after the election date.

• Creates a floating homestead exemption for City of Trion independent school district property taxes, exempting increases in a home's assessed value above its base year value.
• Limits the exemption to homesteads of five contiguous acres or less, as otherwise defined under Georgia's general homestead law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-40).
• Requires a one-time application with the City of Trion's governing authority, after which the exemption automatically renews each year.
• Excludes new improvements or added land from the exemption and requires recalculation if property is removed from the homestead.
• Requires a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and a local voter referendum before the exemption can take effect.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act if voters reject it or if the required election is not held.

Homeowners within the City of Trion independent school district who claim a homestead exemption, the City of Trion's governing authority which processes applications and runs the referendum, and the local school district, which would collect less in property tax revenue from rising home values.

Homeowners in the district could see their school property tax bills grow more slowly even as their home values rise, since only the base year value would be taxed. The school district would collect less revenue than it otherwise would as property values increase over time.

• Section 1 defines 'base year' as the year before a homeowner first receives the exemption and limits the homestead to five contiguous acres.
• Section 1(b) grants the exemption equal to the difference between a home's current assessed value and its base year assessed value, adjusting if property is added or removed.
• Section 1(c)-(d) requires a one-time application to the City of Trion's governing authority, with automatic annual renewal afterward.
• Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to school district educational taxes, not state, county, or municipal taxes.
• Section 1(f) sets the exemption to apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House under the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 requires a City of Trion referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject it or no election occurs.

1. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
4. 2025-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-03-13Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-03-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Colton Moore (R, SD-53)Primary sponsor

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #250

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• City of Trion
• school district funding
• local referendum