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HB573 • 2026

Perry County; senior property tax exemption, authorized; constitutional amendment

Perry County; senior property tax exemption, authorized; constitutional amendment

Elections Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Jackson
Last action
2026-04-03
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Effective

Plain English Breakdown

The bill is enacted by the legislature but requires voter approval at an election before it becomes part of the Constitution.

Perry County Senior Property Tax Exemption Amendment

This bill proposes a change to the Alabama Constitution that would allow seniors in Perry County who have lived in their home for five years to freeze their property tax value starting October 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes an amendment to the state constitution specifically for Perry County.
  • Allows homeowners aged 65 or older to claim a senior property tax exemption on single-family owner-occupied homes.
  • Requires owners to have used the home as their main residence for at least five years before claiming it.
  • Freezes the assessed value of eligible properties based on the value from October 1, 2026.
  • States that any new additions made after claiming the exemption will be taxed based on their added value.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeowners aged 65 or older living in Perry County who meet residency requirements.
  • The Perry County Revenue Commissioner, who processes written claims between October 1 and December 31.
  • Voters in Alabama, who must approve this amendment at an election for it to become law.

Terms To Know

Senior property tax exemption
A rule that freezes the official value of a home used to calculate taxes, keeping taxes lower even if market prices rise.
Assessed value
The dollar amount assigned to a property by officials to determine how much tax is owed.
Principal place of residence
The main home where an individual lives, which must be used as such for at least five years before claiming this exemption.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This change only applies to single-family owner-occupied residential property in Perry County.
  • Voters must approve the amendment by a majority vote at an election before it becomes law.
  • The exemption can first be claimed on October 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-03 House

    Enacted

  2. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Chambliss Local Certification Resolution - Adopted Roll Call 1085 (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1084 (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  4. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  5. 2026-04-02 House

    Sent to Secretary of State

  6. 2026-04-02 House

    Delivered to Governor

  7. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Signature Requested

  8. 2026-04-02 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-04-02 House

    Ready to Enroll

  10. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  11. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  12. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  13. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation

  14. 2026-03-17 House

    LocalCertificationResolutionAdopted (Yeas 74, Nays 0)

  15. 2026-03-17 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 975 (Yeas 83, Nays 0)

  16. 2026-03-17 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 94, Nays 0)

  17. 2026-03-17 House

    Carried Over to the Call of the Chair

  18. 2026-03-10 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  19. 2026-03-10 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  20. 2026-03-05 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  21. 2026-03-05 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation

Official Summary Text

This act proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, relating to Perry County, to authorize qualified taxpayers 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property tax exemption for single-family owner-occupied residential property beginning October 1, 2027, subject to certain conditions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB573 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB573
4UB9XRI-2
By Representatives Jackson, Chestnut (Constitutional
Amendment)
RFD: Local Legislation
First Read: 05-Mar-26
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HB573 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 05-Mar-26
Enrolled, An Act,
To propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama
of 2022, relating to Perry County, to authorize a qualified
taxpayer 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property
tax exemption for real property owned in the county under
certain conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution
of Alabama of 2022, is proposed:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
(a) In Perry County, an individual 65 years of age or
older may claim a senior property tax exemption for ad valorem
tax purposes on real property located in the county which is
owned by the individual, classified as single-family
owner-occupied residential property, and used as the principal
place of residence of the individual for not less than five
years immediately prior to the tax year for which the
individual first claims the senior property tax exemption. The
senior property tax exemption shall freeze the assessed value
of the property for the year immediately prior to claiming the
exemption.
(b) The following provisions shall apply to the
individual claiming the senior property tax exemption:
(1) The taxpayer shall continue to receive the senior
property tax exemption as long as the taxpayer continues to
use the property as his or her principal place of residence.
(2) The individual shall continue to be eligible to
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HB573 Enrolled
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(2) The individual shall continue to be eligible to
claim a homestead exemption and any other exemption authorized
by law on the property.
(3) The property shall continue to be subject to any
millage rate changes on the property.
(4) The assessed value of any additions to the property
after claiming the senior property tax exemption shall be
added to the assessed value of the property and subject to ad
valorem tax based on the increase in the assessed value of the
addition after the taxpayer claims the senior property tax
exemption.
(5) This exemption may be claimed beginning October 1,
2027, for the value of the property on October 1, 2026.
(6) This exemption must be claimed in writing with the
Perry County Revenue Commissioner between October 1 and
December 31.
Upon ratification of this constitutional amendment, the
Code Commissioner shall number and place this amendment as
appropriate in the constitution omitting this instructional
paragraph and may make the following nonsubstantive revisions:
change capitalization, hierarchy, spelling, and punctuation
for purposes of style and uniformity; correct manifest
grammatical, clerical, and typographical errors; revise
internal or external citations and cross-references; harmonize
language; and translate effective dates.
END PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment
shall be held in accordance with Sections 284, 284.01, and 285
of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and the election laws
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HB573 Enrolled
Page 3
of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and the election laws
of this state. The appropriate election official shall assign
a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on
the election ballot and shall set forth the following
description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed
constitutional amendment:
"Relating to Perry County, proposing an amendment to
the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to authorize a qualified
taxpayer 65 years of age or older to claim a senior property
tax exemption for real property under certain conditions.
Proposed by Act ____."
This description shall be followed by the following
language:
"Yes( ) No( )."
Section 3. The proposed amendment shall become valid as
part of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, when approved by
a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.
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HB573 Enrolled
Page 4
a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 17-Mar-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 02-Apr-26 Passed
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