HB1527: HB1527 Franklin Springs, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption

This bill creates a local homestead exemption (a break on property taxes for a primary home) for senior residents of the City of Franklin Springs. Residents who are 65 or older would pay no city property tax on their homestead's assessed value, though the exemption applies only to city taxes for municipal purposes, not state, county, or school taxes. To get the exemption, a resident must apply with the city government and show proof of age; once approved, the exemption renews automatically each year as long as the person still lives there. The change cannot take effect unless approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and by Franklin Springs voters in a November 2026 referendum. If voters approve, the exemption starts January 1, 2027. If they reject it or no valid election occurs, the entire Act repeals itself 365 days after the election date.

• Grants residents of the City of Franklin Springs who are 65 or older a full exemption from city property taxes on their homestead's assessed value.
• Requires applicants to file paperwork with the city government proving their age and eligibility before receiving the exemption.
• Makes the exemption automatically renew each year without a new application, as long as the person still occupies the home.
• Limits the exemption to city ad valorem (property) taxes for municipal purposes only, excluding state, county, and school taxes.
• Requires a November 2026 referendum of Franklin Springs voters before the exemption can take effect, with automatic repeal if voters reject it.

Senior residents of the City of Franklin Springs who are 65 or older and own a homestead there, the city's governing authority and election superintendent who must administer the exemption and referendum, and city taxpayers generally, since the exemption shifts the local tax base.

If approved, eligible senior homeowners in Franklin Springs would owe no city property tax on their home, lowering their annual tax bills, while the city would need to make up that revenue elsewhere or manage a smaller municipal tax base.

• Section 1 defines 'senior citizen' as someone 65 or older by January 1 of the application year and ties 'homestead' to the state law definition (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-40).
• Section 1(b) grants qualifying seniors a full exemption from city ad valorem taxes on their homestead's assessed value, effective for tax years starting January 1, 2027.
• Section 1(c) and (d) require an application with the city and provide for automatic annual renewal unless the person becomes ineligible.
• Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to city municipal taxes, not state, county, or school taxes, and replaces rather than adds to other city homestead exemptions.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 sets a November 2026 referendum in Franklin Springs, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject the measure or no valid election occurs.
• Section 4 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval, except for the referendum-dependent Section 1.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 579
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2026

   161 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #712

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   44 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #761

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• senior citizens
• Franklin Springs
• local referendum