Georgia CommonsHB 14: Fannin County; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption
Last action June 22, 2026 · House Lost Reconsidered Bill/Resolution
A local bill would let Fannin County voters decide whether to create a new homestead property tax exemption funded by a new 1 percent local sales tax, running from 2028 through 2039.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This bill applies only to Fannin County. It would create a homestead exemption from county ad valorem (property) taxes for homeowners in a special tax district covering the whole county. Instead of a fixed dollar exemption, the amount would change each year based on how much money comes in from a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST), a 1 percent sales tax that would be collected in the county from January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2037. Homeowners would need to apply for the exemption once, unless they already qualify for another homestead exemption in the county, and it would renew automatically as long as they remain eligible. The exemption would apply on top of any other homestead exemption and would run from the year after voters approve it through December 31, 2039. Because it changes property tax law for one county, the bill needs a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and voter approval in a November 2026 referendum before it can take effect on January 1, 2027; otherwise it automatically expires.
What the bill does
- Creates a homestead exemption for Fannin County property owners equal to the assessed value covered by new local sales tax revenue collected each year.
- Ties the exemption to a new 1 percent Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) that would run from January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2037.
- Requires most homeowners to apply once with the county's local tax official, with automatic renewal each year as long as they stay eligible.
- Makes the exemption additional to, not a replacement for, any other homestead exemption a homeowner already receives.
- Requires a countywide referendum in November 2026 and a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly before the law can take effect.
- Sets the exemption to run through December 31, 2039, and automatically repeals the whole Act if voters reject it or no election is held.
Who it affects
Homeowners in Fannin County who claim a homestead exemption, the county tax commissioner's office that processes applications, county government (which relies on ad valorem tax revenue), and Fannin County voters, who must approve the measure in a November 2026 referendum.
Why it matters
If approved, Fannin County homeowners could see part of their home's value shielded from county property taxes, with the amount shifting each year depending on how much the new local sales tax brings in. County government would gain a new sales tax revenue source in exchange for reduced property tax collections through 2039.
Key provisions
- Section 1 defines key terms, including 'homestead property' and 'LHOST,' and grants the exemption based on annual net proceeds of the new sales tax collected in the special district conterminous with the county.
- Section 1(c) and (d) set application rules, allowing homeowners with an existing qualifying exemption to skip a new application, and providing automatic annual renewal.
- Section 1(e) specifies the exemption applies only to county-levied taxes, only within the special district, and stacks on top of other homestead exemptions, running from the year after voter approval through December 31, 2039.
- Section 1(f) sets the LHOST collection period as January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2037.
- Section 3 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate for the Act to become law, as required by the Georgia Constitution.
- Section 4 requires a countywide referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with the exemption taking effect January 1, 2027 if approved, and automatic repeal of the entire Act 365 days after the election if rejected or not held.
- Section 4(c) allows any Fannin County voter to seek a court order (writ of mandamus) forcing the election superintendent to hold the required election if it is not conducted.
From the bill
“Each resident of the special district is granted an exemption from all ad valorem taxes imposed by the county for all purposes in the amount of the assessed value of such homestead property as is determined annually based upon the net proceeds of the sales and use tax”
“If the Act is not so approved, or if the election is not conducted as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective, and this Act shall be automatically repealed on the 365th calendar day following the election date”
Status timeline
- House Lost Reconsidered Bill/Resolution (House)
- House Reconsidered (House)
- House Notice to Reconsider (House)
- House Third Reading Lost (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
Show full history (9 actions)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)
Votes
- House voteJune 20, 2026
95 yea, 67 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)
- House voteJune 22, 2026
97 yea, 75 nay (1 not voting, 6 absent)
- House voteJune 22, 2026
99 yea, 74 nay (1 not voting, 5 absent)
Topics
- property taxes
- homestead exemption
- Fannin County
- local sales tax
- local referendum