SB566: SB566 Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; provide

Georgia counties send property owners two key documents each year: a notice of assessment and a tax bill. This bill changes what both must say and how homestead exemptions tied to the 2024 statewide base year homestead exemption law (HB 581) are calculated, applied for, and monitored. It revises the definitions used to calculate the 'base year' and 'adjusted base year' assessed value of a homestead, expands the window during which people can apply for a homestead exemption (tying it to the deadline for appealing an assessment rather than a fixed date), and creates a new penalty of 50 percent of the tax savings for anyone who fails to report that they no longer qualify for an exemption they were granted. It also requires local tax officials to submit annual lists of who has been granted or denied homestead exemptions to the Georgia Department of Revenue for statewide review, revises the required contents of assessment notices and tax bills, and repeals the requirement that taxing authorities certify an estimated property tax rollback rate. The changes apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

• Adds a new penalty (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-51.1) equal to 50 percent of the tax savings for property owners who fail to report losing eligibility for a homestead exemption by the appeal deadline.
• Extends the deadline to apply for a homestead exemption from a fixed date to the same deadline as appealing a property assessment notice.
• Requires local tax officials to submit annual lists of granted and denied homestead exemptions to the Department of Revenue for statewide cross-checking (new O.C.G.A. § 48-5-57).
• Rewrites the definitions of 'base year assessed value,' 'adjusted base year assessed value,' and 'substantial property change' used to calculate the 2024 statewide homestead exemption.
• Changes required contents of annual assessment notices and tax bills, including replacing fair market and assessed value disclosures with an estimated tax savings figure and adding contact information for appeals.
• Repeals the requirement (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-306.2) that local governments annually calculate and certify an estimated property tax rollback rate.

Georgia homeowners who claim or might claim a homestead exemption, county tax commissioners and tax receivers who prepare bills and notices, county boards of tax assessors, and the Georgia Department of Revenue, which will maintain a statewide list of homestead exemption status.

Homeowners who lose eligibility for a homestead exemption but don't report it could now face a financial penalty equal to half the tax savings they improperly kept. The changes to application deadlines could also give some homeowners more time to apply for exemptions than they currently have.

• Section 1 revises tax bill notice requirements (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-34), including a sunset after 2029 for a required notice about opting out of the 2024 homestead exemption law.
• Section 2 rewrites key definitions in the base year homestead exemption law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-44.2) governing how assessed value increases are capped.
• Section 3 changes the homestead exemption application deadline (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-45) to align with the appeal deadline for assessment notices rather than a fixed date.
• Section 4 creates a new penalty provision (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-51.1) imposing a 50 percent penalty on tax savings for unreported ineligibility, effective for tax years starting January 1, 2026.
• Section 5 creates a new statewide reporting requirement (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-57) for local tax officials to submit homestead exemption lists to the Department of Revenue annually.
• Section 6 revises the required contents of the annual notice of assessment (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-306), including new estimated tax savings and appeal contact information.
• Section 7 repeals the estimated rollback rate certification requirement (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-306.2) entirely.
• Section 9 makes the law effective upon the Governor's signature and applicable to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

1. 2026-04-22Effective Date 2026-04-22
2. 2026-04-22Act 378
3. 2026-04-22Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-23House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)

• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Bruce Williamson (R, HD-112)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   32 yea, 22 nay (1 not voting, 0 absent)

   Motion To Engross: Sb 423, Sb 515, Sb 566, Sb 568, Sb 573, Sr 838: Senate Vote #640

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #649

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2026

   161 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 12 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #767

4. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #840

• property taxes
• homestead exemptions
• tax assessment notices
• local government finance