HB1340: HB1340 Hall County; ad valorem tax for educational purposes; homestead exemption; increase income cap

Hall County school district currently offers homestead exemptions from school property taxes for older residents, based on a 1998 law. This bill raises the income cap for the exemption available to residents ages 62 to 65 from $25,000 to $40,000 of combined household income, so more people in that age group can qualify. It also creates a new, separate exemption for residents 66 and older worth a set dollar amount of their home's assessed value, and clarifies that people who already applied for an earlier exemption do not have to reapply as they age into a new category. The existing full-value exemption for residents 70 and older remains unchanged. Because this changes local tax law, the bill only takes effect if it passes by a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and is then approved by Hall County school district voters in a referendum set for November 2026. If approved, the changes take effect January 1, 2027. If rejected or the election is not held, the bill is automatically repealed a year after the election date.

• Raises the income cap for the existing 62-to-65 age group homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 of combined household and spousal income.
• Creates a new homestead exemption for Hall County school district residents 66 and older, covering a set dollar amount of the home's assessed value.
• Lets people who already applied for an earlier exemption skip reapplying when they age into a new exemption category.
• Requires Hall County to hold a referendum on November 3, 2026 so voters in the school district can approve or reject the changes.
• Sets the effective date as January 1, 2027 if voters approve, and automatically repeals the bill 365 days after the election if they do not.

Senior citizens and disabled residents who own homes in the Hall County school district, especially those aged 62 and older, along with the unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying seniors. Hall County's election superintendent and school tax officials are also affected, since they must run the referendum and administer the exemptions.

If voters approve the referendum, more Hall County seniors with moderate incomes could qualify for a break on their school property taxes, and residents 66 and older would get a new exemption covering a large share of their home's value, lowering their school tax bills.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) to raise the income cap for the 62-to-65 age group exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 while keeping the $30,000 exempted assessed value amount unchanged.
• Section 1 adds new subsection (a.1) granting residents 66 and older an exemption on the first $480,000 of their homestead's assessed value, with surviving spouses 66 or older continuing to receive it.
• Section 1 keeps subsection (b)'s full-value exemption for residents 70 and older, and confirms people who already have the 66-and-older exemption need not reapply.
• Section 2 requires the Act to pass by a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to comply with the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 orders a Hall County school district referendum on November 3, 2026, with the Act taking effect January 1, 2027 if approved, or being automatically repealed 365 days after the election if not.
• Section 4 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval, except for the referendum-dependent provisions in Section 3.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 662
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-12Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-10House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)Primary sponsor
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 10, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #693

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 18, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #728

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• Hall County
• senior citizens
• school taxes