Some GA homeowners may be in line for lower property taxes. Here’s what to know

Georgia property tax collections rose 41% statewide from 2018 to 2022, with total assessed values climbing nearly 39%. Georgia lawmakers heard the complaints from homeowners and a fix was approved in November in 2024.

House Bill 581, Save the Homes Act caps how much your home’s taxable value can increase each year, so your property tax bill can’t skyrocket just because the housing market did.

What HB 581 does

The bill creates a floating homestead exemption that caps annual increases in your home’s taxable value to the rate of inflation, using 2024 as the base year.

The bill’s framework:

• Creates a statewide floating homestead exemption for owner-occupied homes.
• Allows local governments opt out of that exemption within their jurisdiction.
• Gives eligible counties and cities the option to adopt a new local sales tax for property tax relief.
• Includes changes to assessment and appeals procedures.
• Requires the constitutional amendment connected to the bill to be ratified by voters for the full law to take effect.
• Adds limits and rules tied to how the exemption is applied, including annual inflation-based adjustments rather than a complete freeze on value.

Referendum A:

• Raises the personal property tax exemption threshold from $7,500 to $20,000
• Means you owe no property taxes on personal property valued under $20,000
• Applies to things like business equipment and furniture
• Does not apply to cars, mobile homes, or trailers
• Bigger deal for small business owners than for typical homeowners

The opt-out option

Roughly two-thirds of Georgia school systems, a third of counties, and a quarter of cities opted out of the HB 581 exemption.

Critics also warn that the cap could create a wide tax disparity. Some assessed values reset to market rate when a home is sold, meaning new buyers will pay significantly more than long-term owners in the same neighborhood.

Reasons to opt out:

To offset revenue losses, local governments can put a 1% Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) on the ballot.

• If home values are capped at inflation, tax revenue grows more slowly, potentially leaving less money for roads, schools, and services
• A hard cap makes it harder to forecast local governments budget based on projected tax revenue
• The burden shifts to new homeowners (who reset to market value at purchase)
• School districts are heavily dependent on property tax revenue; a cap directly threatens what they can spend per student
• FLOST is not a sure thing since voters have to approve it
• Some localities argued they already had homestead protections and didn’t need the state’s version
• Some governments simply didn’t want a state mandate overriding their taxing authority

More changes are possible at the state level

The legislature isn’t done with this issue.

Other measures:

• Georgia State Bill 382, would eliminate the local opt-out entirely and make the inflation cap mandatory statewide. The bill has moved to the House.
• Gov. Kemp signed a one-time tax rebate for residents who filed 2024 and 2025 returns.

Important information

• Muscogee County Schools planned to opt out of HB 581, though that does not necessarily mean Muscogee County government did the same.
• Assessment notices for real and personal property were mailed May 19, 2025.
• Muscogee County’s median effective property tax rate is about 1.39%, and Columbus specifically is listed at 1.45%
• The deadline to appeal a property tax assessment is within 45 days of the notice of assessment.
• You have the right to appeal your assessment.
• Check the online portal for updates.

If you have something you would like to read or know more about, email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Some GA homeowners may be in line for lower property taxes. Here’s what to know."