SB 382: Ad Valorem Taxation; make the state-wide base year homestead exemption mandatory for all political subdivisions

In plain language

What the bill does

Who it affects

Why it matters

Key provisions

From the bill

Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Finance Committee, January 28, 2026

   From 0:58:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute for SB 382 to make the statewide homeowner exemption mandatory, limiting annual taxable home-value growth to inflation. The sponsor said about 20% of cities and 70% of school boards had opted out, leaving some homeowners facing double-digit tax increases. The substitute would also apply property-tax-relief sales tax collections through June 30 to that year’s property tax bills rather than delaying relief until the following year. In response to questions, the sponsor said local governments could still adjust tax rates, newly covered jurisdictions would use the current year as their base year, and existing participants would retain the previous year’s base. The sponsor said stronger local protections would remain, with whichever limit provided greater protection applying each year. A Georgia School Boards Association witness said districts faced different financial conditions, rising costs and a 20-mill tax-rate cap. The witness requested authority for school districts to levy a sales tax to offset property taxes. One member raised concerns about school funding needs; the witness confirmed rising costs. The committee approved the substitute with three opposed. The favorable vote count was not stated.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 2, 2026

   From 0:06:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would restore a homeowner property-tax approach that the Senate passed in February 2024 by a 42-7 vote, with everyone included rather than allowed to opt out. The sponsor also said it would speed up property-tax relief funded by the FLOST sales tax. According to the sponsor, the existing law delayed that relief until November of the following year, while the bill would allow money collected through June 30 to reduce property-tax bills that same year. The sponsor said homeowners in 34 counties would see the relief sooner. The chair noted that residents had asked when the money would become available. A committee member requested the bill for the next day's Senate floor calendar. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing this bill and SB 420.

3. Senate floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11)

   From 2:10:53 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Engrossed)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would end local opt-outs from statewide limits on increases in homeowners' taxable assessments and apply certain sales tax collections to property tax bills sooner. The sponsor said 70% of school districts had opted out, leaving many homeowners without protection. Answering questions, the sponsor said senior exemptions and more generous local protections would remain, no sales tax increase was included, and local governments could still raise tax rates. One supporting member cited a potential $14 million impact against a roughly $1 billion school budget. Another supporter described a constituent choosing between property taxes and family medical-related expenses. A further supporter said rising assessments threatened older homeowners' ability to remain at home. An opposing member argued that differing local finances made a statewide requirement inappropriate and that more housing construction would better address affordability. A second opponent cited falling commercial assessments and school closures. Another opponent said renters needed help too and warned about funding essential services. The minority leader argued that removing opt-outs reversed a bipartisan compromise. A further member called the proposal a limited step and urged similar attention to insurance costs. The Senate approved preventing floor amendments, 31 to 22, then adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill, 31 to 19. A motion to send it immediately to the House failed, 30 to 20.

4. House Ways & Means Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:28:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: With the bill's author absent, the chair briefly described a substitute that would require local governments to participate in the floating homestead exemption and combine that requirement with other House-passed provisions, revised in response to feedback. The chair said intended exemptions tied to local property tax digests were missing and held the bill so the language could be added. In response to a member's question, the chair explained that participation would be mandatory for all local governments, with exceptions for existing base-year exemptions, including preservation of the St. Stephen's Day exemption. The chair estimated that two-thirds or more of cities and counties had remained in the existing program, compared with somewhat fewer than one-third of school systems. No vote was taken, and the chair said the committee would reconvene later.

5. House Ways & Means Committee, March 20, 2026

   From 0:16:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said SB 382 would require the floating homestead exemption that Georgia voters approved and incorporate language from a property-tax proposal previously passed by the House. The sponsor said negotiations were close, but protecting local governments if an existing local sales tax is eliminated remained an issue. The sponsor also discussed retaining property-appraisal provisions in related legislation until a separate appraisal measure advances. The chair described changes addressing school exemptions as part of the overall property-tax base, matching one local sales-tax distribution to existing distributions for the remainder of their term, and allowing another local sales tax to be enacted by resolution. The chair thanked county, municipal and school representatives for their input, acknowledged disagreements, and said the committee had tried to accommodate local governments while prioritizing homeowner and taxpayer relief. No members asked questions. A member moved to pass the bill, and another seconded. The chair announced that the bill passed after a voice vote, with two opposed.

6. House Rules Committee, March 25, 2026

   From 0:40:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A committee member moved to return SB 382 to the Ways and Means Committee. The motion received a second, and the chair announced the referral without objection. There was no discussion of the bill's contents.

7. House Ways & Means Committee, March 26, 2026

   From 0:25:43 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented a substitute for SB 382, saying it would allow sales-tax revenue to fund homestead relief, halve homeowners’ property taxes over five years, raise school reserves to 25%, retain tax-transparency provisions and add a nonbinding ballot question. The chair argued that rising assessments had burdened homeowners. One member countered that growth and housing demand also drove costs. A member clarified, and the chair confirmed, that the revenue-growth limit was the greater of 3% or inflation. Responding to a member’s concern about renters and shifting costs to sales taxes, the chair said the existing five-cent sales-tax cap would remain, but acknowledged lower property taxes would not guarantee lower rents. Another member questioned funding for students with disabilities. The chair cited exceptions through referendums or local legislation, but deferred questions about federal funding losses to education specialists. A member worried about disrupting Meriwether County’s existing tax rollbacks; the chair promised further review. Another questioned whether revenue limits would hinder borrowing. The chair acknowledged uncertainty, while a second member sought assurance that voter-approved bonds could exceed the cap. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with opposition heard and no count stated.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 13, 2026 (legislative day 2), 0:22:53
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 29, 2026 (legislative day 9), 0:44:55
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 2, 2026 (legislative day 10), 0:26:25
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 4, 2026 (legislative day 12), 0:24:22
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:47:50
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35), 0:51:13
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 27, 2026 (legislative day 38, part 1), 0:39:33

Status timeline

Sponsors

Votes

Topics