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Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 25, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 25, 2026 (part 1)
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The subcommittees advanced four measures: HB 1035, concerning foreclosure for unpaid service charges; HB 1336, directing some aircraft property-tax revenue to airports; HR 400, expanding property-tax relief for disabled veterans; and HB 1240, applying a tax-base limit to renewed redevelopment districts. ACCG opposed restrictions on counties’ use of aircraft tax revenue. An Invest Atlanta witness described redevelopment districts’ benefits during discussion of the renewal limit. Members suspended the rules to advance HR 400 at its first hearing. HR 250 was called up, but no presentation or vote followed before that subcommittee adjourned.
You're on your way. Thank you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, let's go to HB1336. Uh, Chairman Crowe, you can do that from right there at your seat if you want to. Let's see. What number? 26? Yes. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. This is, uh, House Bill, it is House Bill 1336. I gotta get the right one out of here. It's a...
We got a second. Any further discussion by the committee members? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed same sign. And it does pass, Mr. Crowe. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 23, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 23, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): Ways and Means subcommittees advanced bills on conservation credits, one-time income tax refunds, education donations, small-business health benefits, construction sales tax refunds, property assessment notices and taxation of airport property. They also held first hearings on overtime and tip tax relief, homeowner foreclosure protections, airport funding, taxation of large rental-home owners, senior property tax protections, utility inventory exemptions and hospital sales taxes, without voting on those proposals. Discussion included concerns about condominium finances, rental housing costs, airport operations and funding for local hospitals. Two scheduled bills were held for later consideration. The full committee then approved HB 565, described by the chair as increasing available public-school tax credits.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. Uh, this is House Bill 1336, uh, LC number 590343. Um, what this bill does is it, uh, it helps to get funding to our municipal and general aviation airports. Uh, Georgia has dozens of public use general aviation and municipal airports that serve our local communities, agricultural operations, emergency...
All right. Thank you, Chairman Crowe. Uh, any members of the committee have a comment or a question they'd like to ask Representative Crowe? All right, we've got a, uh, one speaker here, Nathan Corbett. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Always a pleasure to be here. My name is Nathan Corbett with ACCG. Thank you for the opportunity to...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 26, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered income tax relief, property tax assessments and exemptions, homeowner protections, tax allocation districts, and airport funding. Members advanced HB 7 after updating its dates, along with HB 1035, HB 1000, HR 400, HR 250, HB 1240, and HB 1336. Discussion focused on whether purchase-price assessments would favor large rental investors, the uncertain local cost of a disabled-veteran exemption, and limits on local spending flexibility under the airport proposal. Members also voted on a revised version of HB 880 with larger deductions. After a voice vote, the chair requested a show of hands, but no result or count was announced before the committee moved on.
26. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I've, I, I was- I'd like to stay. I was wondering if you forgot about me, but that's, that's okay. I do. I'm sorry. No, it's, it's, it's certainly not the first time, won't be the last, I'm sure. Um, this bill, um, would simply require or, uh, have local jurisdictions that collects revenue from ad valorem tax on aircraft, uh, in...
Um, but this is just to ensure. There are some places that, that are really not getting the investment that they need. And I think that they would not have that income were it not for that airport. And so I think it's only, uh, it's only proper that that revenue be dedicated back to the, the source that it comes from. And follow-up, if I may, Mr. Chair?...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 5, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 5, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 317 and its accompanying constitutional resolution, HR 192, on infrastructure financing districts. It also approved HB 1132, a construction-materials tax exemption intended for Habitat for Humanity, and HB 1370, income-tax exclusions for some tips and overtime pay. Members held a voice vote on HB 1285, concerning county sales-tax options, but the chair did not explicitly announce the result. After the full committee adjourned, the Compliance Subcommittee held a hearing on HB 1212. Supporters said its proposed tax would encourage people receiving PFAS cleanup damages to spend that money on cleanup. Opponents said it would penalize contaminated-property owners and fail to account for litigation costs and settlement practices. The subcommittee took no vote.
Our last, uh, item is HB1370. Uh, Chairman Carson. What... Let's see. There you go. 26. Gotcha. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is, uh, a follow-up, uh, to our IRC conformity bill. As you know, the, the one big beautiful bill in July of last year, uh, put in various thresholds for exempting tax on tips and tax on overtime. The Fiscal Research Center, uh, took...
So thank you for ... So that it'll actually help people this year as they can change their withholding, et cetera. So thank you for that, and I make a motion. If I could just respond to that, Mr. Chairman. When Fiscal Research did the analysis on this bill, removing the tax on tips with the $25,000 threshold was somewhat of a revenue hit potentially to the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 24, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 24, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee advanced all five measures it considered. It approved HB 275, presented as a clearer property assessment notice, HB 376 with a revised provision, and HB 1209 supporting a public-private construction project. HB 942, concerning taxation of Atlanta-owned airport property outside city limits, initially failed, but the committee reconsidered and passed it. The committee also advanced HR 1114, a proposed constitutional amendment providing a framework for homeowner property tax relief. Members debated how that proposal would affect farms, schools and local services. The chair announced that it would move to the Rules Committee. No numerical vote totals were announced.
It's one of those cleanse the palate there. HB 376. Yes, sir. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Here to present House Bill, uh, 376, which passed this committee unanimously just a couple of days ago. Uh, this went to rules and came back just for a small edit. That edit is on line 45, where we failed to, uh, account for really the impact...
Amen. All right. Well, thank you very much. Uh, Chairman Williamson, uh, HB 275. Are you ready, sir? Yes, sir. Very good. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I bring before you HB 275, LC443454S, uh, passed out of our, uh, subcommittee, uh, yesterday. Let me scoot closer to him, I think. And quite simply, this is a effort, um, of, a great effort by the,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 18, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee took up eight measures and voted to advance each by voice vote, with no vote counts announced. Members considered transferable forestry tax credits in HB 1085, education savings changes in HB 962, historic rehabilitation credits in HB 376, taxpayer phone-number protections in HB 874, and a deduction for farm assistance payments in HB 1159. The committee also advanced HR 1178 and HB 1156, a proposed constitutional change and related legislation for local homeowner tax relief. Members amended SB 59 to set application and award deadlines for reforestation tax credits before approving it.
Any questions, uh, for the author? I don't see any. What's the will of the committee? Motion. We have a motion. Second. And a second. Uh, any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of passage, please signify by stating, "Aye." Aye. Those opposed, like sign. All right. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Bill passes. Um, HB 376. Chairman Hilton....
Uh, number 11. I got you. I'll turn the floor over to you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be reading from, uh, LC560574S. House Bill 376 expands on an existing program that's very successful, uh, and incentivizes preservationists to, uh, rehab and, and bring back to life old historic properties across our state. Uh, the, the program is essentially sunsetted...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 6, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 6, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered and approved a substitute to HB 276. The sponsor described tax credits for wood-burning power facilities as a way to restore markets for Georgia timber after mill closures, along with changes to data-center tax incentives. Members asked about utility participation, reopening closed facilities, eligibility, construction costs and limits on the credits. The chair noted that no fiscal note was available for the new income-tax credit and questioned whether the credit limits were clearly written. No amendments were offered. The substitute passed by voice vote, with no vote count stated.
Amen. Amen. All right, we have one measure before us this morning. It's a committee substitute to House Bill 276. For everyone on your iPads or watching, uh, in the audience or at home, we'll be working off of LC443513S, and we have the House Majority Whip Burchett here to present the measure for us. Whip Burchett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee...
And, um, they ask for appropriations in the budget, and, um, that's just something that we can't do. Uh, it is up to $1.6 billion, uh, which would be eight, eight facilities, and that would cover a, um, the eight million tons worth of, uh, wood that we are not hauling anymore because of the closure of the plants. Uh, in my mind, um, this is a measure that,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 25, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 25, 2026 (part 2)
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute version of HB 1116, which the sponsor described as gradually eliminating property taxes on owner-occupied homes while giving local governments replacement funding options. Members discussed local revenue shortfalls, school funding, bond payments and a provision that could remove a homeowner’s exemption for unpaid assessments. The chair declared the bill passed after voice and raised-hand votes. No vote count was announced.
And what we've determined that it would require more sooner rather than later ... is about 170 million, and that would provide somewhere 200 to 250 million on an annual basis to backfill. Okay. And th- and that was, you anticipated my second question, was on the grant fund program. Um, would that need to be something that the local governments would request...
Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Polk. Chairman Corbett. Chairman Corbett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, uh, Chairman Blackmon for bringing the bill. I got a, uh, a, a good email from a constituent today, uh, talking about the, the, what you're addressing in, in this bill. Uh, very, uh, much in favor of, of what, what you're...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 19, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 19, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved a substitute for SB 306 concerning notices and refunds tied to expiring conservation-use property tax agreements. It also approved SB 446, which the presenter said would automatically enroll Georgia each year in a federal education tax credit program. Opposition was heard on that voice vote, but no count was announced. The chair held SB 382, concerning a statewide homestead exemption requirement, because intended exemption language was missing from the substitute. The chair said the committee would meet again after the language was updated.
Thank you. Um, Senate Bill, uh, 446. I'll go ahead and go to, uh, Chairman Hilton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, presenting Senate Bill 446, LC590441S. Uh, this is probably familiar to you guys because this is House Bill 1135, which passed, uh, this committee prior to crossover. Uh, this is in relation to, uh, a program that Congress passed providing a...
I don't see any questions. Um, what's the will of the committee? Move to do pass. Second. I have a motion to do pass and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by stating aye. Aye. Those opposed, like sign. Nay. Okay. Bill passes. Thank you, Chairman Hilton. Um, and, and the final bill, I know the, uh,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 3, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 3, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered five measures: inventory tax exemptions for electric utilities, conservation-use land agreements, local sales tax negotiations, automatic participation in a federal education tax-credit program, and property tax treatment of low-income housing. Members held do-pass voice votes on HB 1261, HB 547 and HB 560, with no opposition heard before moving on. The chair declared HB 1135 passed after a show-of-hands vote prompted by opposition during the voice vote. On HR 1392, witnesses described low-income housing tax bills they said exceeded property income, and members questioned how assessments should work. Its do-pass motion received both support and opposition, but the chair did not explicitly announce the result before adjourning.
HB 1261. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, yeah, be, uh, House Bill 1261, which is LC560550. Thank you to the committee for allowing me to come back before you again. Uh, this bill is basically talking about level one Freeport exemption. It's related to the, uh, manufacture and production business of the inventories, um, of, of, of the materials that's on the...
Um, Chairman Hilton, 1135. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I'll be reading from LC492766S. Uh, in July of last year, Congress passed a, uh, federal tax credit for $1,700, uh, that goes to, uh, students, both private and public. Uh, this is, uh, this bill here. Uh, one thing that was some- somewhat short-sighted of the bill was that it provided that states opt...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 26, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 26, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee discussed and approved a substitute for SB 382 by voice vote, with opposition heard but no vote count stated. The chair described a plan to cut homeowners’ property taxes in half over five years, limit revenue growth and allow sales-tax revenue to support homestead relief without increasing the existing sales-tax cap. Members questioned effects on renters, school funding, existing county tax rollbacks and local borrowing. The chair acknowledged uncertainty about some effects and offered to examine a county’s concerns further.
Yeah. Can you get that teed up? Thank you, uh, committee members for indulging us these last few days when we were still kind of trying to look and see what, um, what our friends over in the Senate, and appreciate the hard work that they put into, um, property tax. But we'll go ahead and, and call the Ways and Means Committee meeting to order. And I......
And I think as different iterations, uh, have, have, have come up, we've, you know, we've seen less i- in, in the, the bill to help our homeowners. And I, I think we wanted to, uh, revisit that. And as we've had some more conversations with legi- legislative council and looking at the options that are on the table, you know, and knowing that, you know,...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 2, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 2, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved four measures: HB 1110, offering tax credits to small businesses that help employees obtain health insurance and meet other requirements; HB 1148, extending and revising conservation tax credits; and a revised property-tax package consisting of HR 1114 and HB 1116. The property-tax measures would phase down the taxable share of home values and provide sales-tax options and grants to replace property-tax revenue, according to the sponsor. Representatives of county and city governments said they were still reviewing the revised language. Members questioned local revenue effects, data-center funding and the time available to review the changes. Both property-tax measures passed 14 to 5. The other two measures passed by voice vote, with no vote counts stated.
Um, again, you see the, the same, uh, 10% of the, uh, fair market value, um, in section 2.1. Uh. You look in part three as it, as it runs through it, it puts the limitations on the, uh, sales tax that we have seen in previous versions. Section 3.2, um, talks about the, uh, the interg- governmental agreement with regard to, uh, education and the, uh,...
Um, but I believe those are, are provisions that, uh, largely do not necessarily speak to, to the bill at this point because of the mechanism by which we are reducing and providing tax relief to our homeowners is through the, uh, assessed value versus the homestead exemption. You'll see a number of things that have been removed, and again, the number of...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · February 11, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, February 11, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved HB 1001 to accelerate an income tax rate cut and HB 880 to provide further phased tax cuts and higher deductions, with an amendment linking the latter bill's tax-rate reductions to financial conditions. Members also approved an employment tax credit, tax relief for independent fire services, an arts admission tax exemption extension, a proposed constitutional amendment on timber taxes, and a partial update aligning Georgia tax law with federal changes. Members questioned why the federal tax breaks for tips and overtime were excluded from HB 1199, which passed. The committee also held a voice vote on HB 1070, concerning railroad maintenance credits, but the chair did not explicitly announce the result.
Let's move on to rules. Gonna move down to HB 964. Uh, Representative Cannon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, just for the benefit of the committee, bill basically treats, um, what our independent contractor fire service, um, typically call volunteer fire departments, treats them the same as organic fire departments through local governments by removing the ad...
If, um ... Let's see. We may skip around a little bit today, but Chairman Stephens, are you ready with HB 519? Sure. All right. The floor is yours, sir. Um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, this is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to give folks the opportunity to, uh, get that American dream, um, and also help them get a home. Uh, that's another bill, not this...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 30, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 30, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered SR 56 as a framework for homeowner tax-relief grants and possible future school-system participation. The chair said the proposal responded to county feedback. A committee member asked whether participation would remain voluntary even if voters approved the ballot question, and the chair confirmed that local governments would not have to fund grants. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote, with no opposition heard, and adjourned.
Sorry, I apologize for being late here. Had a little, little emergency pop up. Um, gonna call the Ways and Means Committee meeting to order. Mr. Vice Chairman, would you open us up in a word of prayer, sir? Dear God, we just thank you for today, dear Lord. We just thank you for the opportunity that we have here to gather to do the work of 11 men here in...
I, you know, believe these are two measures that were largely, uh, without controversy, so, um, we agreed to, to give that a shot. And, uh, be happy to, to try to answer any questions to SR 56 as, as presented here or, um, um, take any if anybody has any, any comments. Representative Buckner? Yeah, just to, real quick, just, just to be clear, this is the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 16, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 16, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered SB 566, which the sponsor described as a way to make property assessment notices clearer for taxpayers. Discussion focused on keeping the notice format consistent while identifying the correct local official for homestead exemption applications. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposition heard. HB 275 and HB 1116 were mentioned for comparison but were not separately considered.
Members, I, I think the tablets are being handed out. I, I wanna be respectful of Chairman Hustedler's time. I know he has a committee meeting today. He's gonna hear a bunch of House bills. And so, uh, we wanted to, to be expeditious. And y'all may still be in session too, Chairman. But if you wanted to go ahead and start on, uh, SB five sixty-six, it's the...
Uh, Dante, did you, did you wanna... Uh, Mr. Chairman, it- is it okay if Dante- Sure ... has a, do you have a comment or two, Dante? I know you've worked, uh- I'd only be a moment ... with this. Sure. I'm assuming ACCG is here in support of and the assessors as well. We are, sir. Thank you. So, uh, uh, good afternoon, Chairman Black and members of the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · January 15, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, January 15, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee held an information-only meeting on 12 tax incentive evaluations presented by the Department of Audits and Accounts and researchers from three Georgia universities. Presenters discussed charitable donation credits, service tax exemptions, vehicle trade-ins, manufacturing investment and data centers. An audits representative explained that a corrected data center summary now counts only the 30 percent of activity researchers attributed to the exemption. Members questioned whether the manufacturing credit encouraged rural investment and whether the rural hospital credit improved hospitals’ finances. Researchers said the hospital study examined giving, not changes in individual hospitals’ financial risk or long-term stability. The chair said the committee would return for a deeper discussion, particularly on data centers. No bills were presented for action, and no votes were taken.
Um, and, and so, um, and, and again, from where. Um, but, but again, it, it does appear that from the comments that, to, to your point, that, that these are having benefits. Okay. Thank you. Representative Buckner. Uh, don't go far. This is on the Rural Hospital Tax Credit as well. Uh, I'm just a little confused, and it just may be some of the wording, but...
Yeah, yeah, that, that, that would be a, a different analysis. Right. Thank you. Mm-hmm. Matt, did-- I, I believe I heard Dr. Bluestone mention that there would be some ease of administration if, if these may be close-- more closely aligned with one another. That, that's correct. We've had conversations, I mean, yeah, Dr. Bluestone and, uh, the Department...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 18, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee approved substitute versions of SB 430 and SB 285 by voice vote, with no vote totals announced. Discussion of SB 430 focused on allowing qualifying military museums to seek tourism-related funding and adding oversight of hotel and motel tax funds. For SB 285, a committee member described a two-year funding approach for the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund using existing tax revenue rather than new taxes. The chair said the other bills were postponed, and the meeting adjourned.
Those opposed, like sign. All right, thank very much, uh, Mr. Whip. Um, I think Chairman Martin may be able to help you or y'all, y'all on SB285, but your, your other bill on the agenda, if you'd like to proceed with that-
Yes, sir ... that measure. If that's the chair's wish. Um, SB285, and I would like to thank the chair for, for coming across and talking to me and assuring me that, that he would make it better. I, I sat down at my desk this morning and read it, and you have absolutely done that, and I greatly appreciate that. And I, I would yield to Chairman Martin, who...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 20, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 20, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House Ways & Means Committee approved SB 382, which the chair described as making the statewide floating homestead exemption mandatory and incorporating additional property-tax and local sales-tax provisions. The sponsor said negotiations were continuing, including over protecting local governments if an existing local sales tax is eliminated. No committee members asked questions. The bill passed by voice vote, with two members recorded as opposed.
Across the board. Um, and Chairman Huffstedler, uh, we, we, we appreciate the work that you've done in Senate Finance for us this year and, uh, the relationship we have. And I, I wanna thank you for bringing, uh, Senate Bill 382. And, uh, we'll turn the floor over to you, sir. Well, I don't, I don't wanna say too much on this, but we have been, uh, working...
And I think that is a, a welcomed add, if, if, if, if that's fair to say. And then, um, in the latest version, we do have the LHOS that would, uh, match the lost distribution, um, for the rest of, the remainder of the term of lost distribution. And then FLOS could be enacted by resolution. So, uh, just some things that we're working on to, to the chairman's...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · March 31, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, March 31, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The committee considered a substitute to SB 52 that would replace the bill’s existing language with provisions on sales tax exemptions for interstate motor carriers. The presenter and a Department of Revenue representative described the proposal as putting existing department policy into law. Members asked how carriers would qualify, whether most travel must occur outside Georgia, and whether the change would affect state revenue. The committee passed the substitute by voice vote and adjourned.
I guess, standard operating procedure here, uh, but, um, we had a, a situation that the Department of Revenue has approved of and this codifies something in their policy and procedure manual, and I think they can validate that if, if they are here. I saw Joe earlier. But, um, we, we have a new substitute to, uh, Senate Bill 52, and Chairman Williamson's...
Yeah. Thank you. And Nathan Gouzy with the Georgia Trucking Association. Okay. And on those two specific lines, I think we do have someone from DOR here, and I think this codifies what some of their internal language that they use right now, and I would, I would defer to the Department of Revenue on that. Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, just because the...
Meeting transcript · Georgia House Ways & Means Committee · June 18, 2026
House Ways & Means Committee, June 18, 2026
Summary by Georgia Commons (AI-written): The House Ways & Means Committee considered HR 3, which the sponsor said would ratify the governor’s temporary suspension of motor fuel and diesel fuel tax collections. A committee member asked whether another suspension could occur given events involving Iran. The sponsor said that was possible but that the resolution covered only the suspension that had ended. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
Of course. And I'm sure that conversation is being actively monitored. But for the sake of the legislation that we have in front of us today, it only addresses the suspension of what we've just come off of. So, um, you know, that's what we're trying to do with this one, and then future suspensions would have to be determined, uh, at a later time. Thank you...
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