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HB1440 • 2025

Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act; enact

Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act; enact

Education Elections Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Petrea, Jesse
Last action
2026-05-11
Official status
House Date Signed by Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the requirement for a referendum but does not specify the date or exact voting threshold required within the provided summary.

Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act

This law creates a property tax exemption for homesteads in Bryan County school districts based on the increase in value since a base year.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides an exemption from ad valorem taxes levied by the Bryan County school district for educational purposes.
  • Calculates the exempt amount as the difference between the current year assessed value and the base year assessed value of the homestead.
  • Defines terms, specifies conditions and procedures for the exemption, and sets rules for applicability.
  • Requires a referendum (election) to be held before the law takes effect.
  • Includes provisions for automatic repeal if constitutional requirements are not met.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeowners in Bryan County who hold their property as a homestead.
  • The Bryan County school district, which collects the taxes subject to this exemption.

Terms To Know

Homestead
A home that serves as the primary residence of the owner and is eligible for specific tax exemptions under this law.
Ad valorem tax
A tax based on the assessed value of property, such as real estate used by school districts.
Assessed value
The dollar amount assigned to a property for calculating taxes, which can change from year to year.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exemption applies only to properties within Bryan County.
  • The law will not take effect unless voters approve it in the required referendum.
  • Specific details regarding the base year and exact procedures are defined by the bill but may require further implementation steps.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-11 Georgia General Assembly

    House Date Signed by Governor

Official Summary Text

Petrea-Stephens-Franklin-Watson Tax Relief Act; enact