---
title: SB 4. Baldwin County; ad valorem taxes; homestead property determined annually for the special district based upon the proceeds of a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST); provide homestead exemption
collection: bills
id: 2026-special/sb4
cite_as: SB 4, 2026 Special Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74757
date: 2026-06-20
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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: 751
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb4.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 4
session: 2026 Special Session
session_slug: 2026-special
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-06-17
last_action: Senate Reconsidered Lost
sponsors:
  - Ricky Williams
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB4/2026/X1
upstream_id: 2154084
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - property taxes
  - homestead exemption
  - Baldwin County
  - local sales tax
  - county referendum
---

# SB 4. Baldwin County; ad valorem taxes; homestead property determined annually for the special district based upon the proceeds of a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST); provide homestead exemption

## Text

Senate Bill 4EX
By: Senator Williams of the 25th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To provide a homestead exemption from Baldwin County ad valorem taxes in the amount
of the assessed value of the homestead property determined annually for the special district
based upon the proceeds of a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) to be
imposed within the special district conterminous with Baldwin County; to provide for
definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating
thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional
requirements and the provisions of Article 2C of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A.; to
provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election,
and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
(a) As used in this Act, the term:
(1) "Ad valorem taxes" means all ad valorem taxes imposed by the governing authority
of the county for all purposes.
(2) "County" means Baldwin County and its governing authority.
S. B. 4EX
(3) "Homestead property" shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section
48-8-109.50 of the O.C.G.A.
(4) "LHOST" means the special sales and use tax established under Article 2C of
Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A.
(5) "Local tax official" means the tax official charged with the duty of receiving
applications for homestead exemptions for the county.
(6) "Special district" means the special district conterminous with the county and
established by Code Section 48-8-109.51 of the O.C.G.A.
(b) 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 collected under Article 2C of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A. on such person's
homestead property located within the special district determined annually based upon the
net proceeds of the sales and use tax collected within the special district in accordance with
Code Section 48-8-109.57 of the O.C.G.A. for the special district based upon the net
proceeds of the LHOST collected within the special district. The value of such property in
excess of such exempted amount shall remain subject to taxation.
(c) A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this
section unless such person or person's agent files an application with the local tax official
giving such information relative to receiving such exemption as will enable the local tax
official to make a determination regarding the initial and continuing eligibility of such person
for such exemption; provided, however, that any person who previously applied for another
homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes imposed by the county, was allowed such
homestead exemption for the immediately preceding tax year, and remains eligible for such
homestead exemption for that same homestead property in the current tax year shall be
allowed the exemption granted under subsection (b) of this section for that homestead
S. B. 4EX
without the application otherwise required by this subsection. The local tax official shall
provide application forms for the purposes of this subsection.
(d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 of
the O.C.G.A. Once granted to a person, the exemption shall be automatically renewed from
year to year without application so long as the person granted the homestead exemption
under subsection (b) of this section occupies such residence as a homestead and otherwise
remains eligible for such exemption. It shall be the duty of any person granted the
homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this section to notify the local tax official in
the event that such person for any reason becomes ineligible for such exemption.
(e) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Code Section 48-8-109.52 of the
O.C.G.A., the exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section:
(1) Shall not apply to or affect any ad valorem taxes other than those levied by the
governing authority of the local government to which this Act applies;
(2) Shall only apply to those portions of real property located within the special district;
(3) Shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other homestead exemption applicable
to the homestead property; and
(4) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable
years beginning on January 1 of the year subsequent to the approval of this Act in the
referendum provided for in Section 4 of this Act and ending on December 31, 2039.
(f) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of Code Section 48-8-109.54 of the
O.C.G.A., the LHOST shall be imposed from January 1, 2028, until December 31, 2037.
SECTION 2.
This Act incorporates by reference the terms and conditions specified under Article 2C of
Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A.
S. B. 4EX
SECTION 3.
In accordance with the requirements of Article VII, Section II, Paragraph II(a)(2) of the
Constitution of the State of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the
requisite two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
SECTION 4.
(a) The election superintendent of the county shall call and conduct an election as provided
in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the county for approval
or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that election on the Tuesday
following the first Monday in November, 2026, and shall issue the call and conduct that
election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall cause the date and
purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding
the date thereof in the official organ of the county. The ballot shall have written or printed
thereon the words:
"( ) YES Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from
Baldwin County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount of the
( ) NO assessed value of the homestead property as is determined annually using
the proceeds of a new 1 percent Local Homestead Option Sales Tax to be
imposed within the special district of Baldwin County for ten years as a
result of such Act?"
(b) All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons
desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes
cast on such question are for approval of the Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full
force and effect on January 1, 2027. 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
provided for in this section. The expense of such election shall be borne by the county. It
S. B. 4EX
shall be the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of
State.
(c) The provisions of this section shall be mandatory upon the election superintendent and
are not intended as directory. If the election superintendent fails or refuses to comply with
this section, any elector of the county may apply for a writ of mandamus to compel the
election superintendent to perform his or her duties under this section. If the court finds that
the election superintendent has not complied with this section, the court shall fashion
appropriate relief requiring the election superintendent to call and conduct such election on
the date required by this section or on the next date authorized for special elections provided
for in Code Section 21-2-540 of the O.C.G.A.
SECTION 5.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 4 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon
its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
S. B. 4EX

## 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 Senate bill would give Baldwin County homeowners a new property tax break tied to a local 1 percent sales tax, but only if voters approve both in a November 2026 referendum.

### Plain-language summary

This bill applies only to Baldwin County. It would create a homestead exemption from county property taxes (ad valorem taxes) for people who own and live in their homes within the county. The amount of the exemption would be recalculated every year based on how much money a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) brings in within the county.
Homeowners already receiving another homestead exemption and remaining eligible would not need to reapply. The exemption would stack on top of, not replace, any other homestead exemption a homeowner already has. Voters must approve the plan in a November 2026 referendum; if approved, the tax break would start January 1, 2027 and run through the end of 2039, while the sales tax itself would run from 2028 through 2037. If voters reject it, the bill would automatically repeal itself.

### What it does

- Creates a homestead exemption from Baldwin County property taxes equal to the assessed value covered by new sales tax revenue collected each year.
- Ties the size of the exemption to the annual net proceeds of a new 1 percent Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) collected in the county.
- Lets homeowners who already qualify for another homestead exemption skip a new application if they remain eligible.
- Requires the exemption to renew automatically each year unless the homeowner becomes ineligible and must notify the tax office.
- Schedules a countywide referendum for November 2026 and repeals the whole Act automatically if voters reject it or the election isn't held.
- Sets the exemption to run from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2039, while the sales tax runs from 2028 through 2037.

### Who it affects

Homeowners in Baldwin County who claim their property as a homestead, the Baldwin County tax office that processes exemption applications, county election officials who must run the November 2026 referendum, and county government, which will collect a new local sales tax instead of some property tax revenue.

### Why it matters

If voters approve it, eligible Baldwin County homeowners would see part of their property tax bill offset by new sales tax revenue, while everyone who shops in the county, including nonresidents, would pay a bit more sales tax. If voters reject it, nothing changes and the law disappears.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 defines key terms and grants the homestead exemption, with its dollar value recalculated annually from LHOST sales tax revenue collected in the district.
- Section 1(c)-(d) sets application and renewal rules, including automatic renewal and a duty to report when a homeowner becomes ineligible.
- Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to county-level taxes, only within the special district, and stacks with other homestead exemptions, running through December 31, 2039.
- Section 1(f) sets the LHOST sales tax period from January 1, 2028 to December 31, 2037.
- Section 3 requires a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House because the bill affects the state constitution's tax provisions.
- Section 4 schedules a Baldwin County referendum for November 2026, specifies the ballot language, and makes the election mandatory, enforceable by a court order if officials fail to hold it.
- Section 4(b) provides that if voters reject the measure or no election is held, the entire Act is automatically repealed 365 days after the election date.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-06-17)
- Last action: Senate Reconsidered Lost (2026-06-20)
- Sponsors: Ricky Williams
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74757

> The history, votes, and amendments (751 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sb4.md?full=1