Georgia House backs property tax overhaul after fiery debate

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A late-night vote at the Georgia Capitol could change how much homeowners pay in property taxes across the state.

After hours of tense debate Thursday, the Georgia House passed House Bill 1116, a wide-ranging proposal that Republicans say is aimed at slowing the rapid rise in property tax bills.

The measure now moves to the Senate.

HB 1116 would change how local governments raise money by capping how fast property tax revenues can grow and shifting more of the burden to sales taxes. Supporters say the bill would give local officials tools to reduce homestead property taxes while putting guardrails on annual increases.

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Shaw Blackmon, a Republican from Bonaire who sponsored the bill, walked lawmakers through a series of slides on the House floor. He said the plan would cap growth in ad valorem property tax revenue at 3% a year or the rate of inflation, whichever is higher, allow local governments to adjust sales taxes to help offset homestead property tax bills and require clearer notice to taxpayers when local governments collect more revenue than the rollback rate, including mailed or electronic notices.

“I doubt we would be talking about this unless property taxes have been on such an unbelievable path,” Blackmon told colleagues, noting that dozens of other states use some form of revenue cap. He framed the bill as a response to homeowners, particularly older residents, who say they are struggling to keep up with rising tax bills.

Democrats sharply criticized both the process and the timing. Several members went to the well to accuse Republican leaders of rushing a complex tax overhaul to the floor just days before Crossover Day, the deadline when most bills must pass at least one chamber to remain viable.

They said they were being asked to vote based on a slide presentation rather than a bill they had sufficient time to review, warning that “the devil is in the details” and raising concerns about the potential impact on local governments and school systems.

“No man, woman, or child in the state of Georgia is safe when the General Assembly is in session. I think I understand why,” Democratic Rep. Eric Gisler said during the debate.

Republicans countered that they are responding to mounting pressure from homeowners who say they are being priced out of their homes. “We’re listening to our property owners, who have been the primary source of government revenue in this state for nearly two centuries,” Blackmon said, arguing that legislators cannot walk away from the issue simply because it is complicated.

The House’s action on HB 1116 comes after an earlier, more ambitious property tax proposal failed this week. Republican leaders had backed a proposed constitutional amendment they said could cut some homeowners’ tax bills by as much as 75%. That measure fell short because it needed a two-thirds majority and did not receive enough Democratic support.

In response, House leaders pivoted to HB 1116, a regular bill that requires only a simple majority.

For now, homeowners will not see an immediate change on their property tax bills. HB 1116 must still clear the Senate and be signed by Gov. Brian Kemp before any of its provisions can take effect.