2026 Legislative Priority - Property Tax Relief
Across the state, Georgia’s homeowners are experiencing skyrocketing property tax bills that far outpace what many Georgians can reasonably afford or be expected to pay.
That’s why I was proud to announce that House Republicans will continue to lead when it comes to delivering meaningful, lasting property tax relief for our neighbors in every corner of the state.
You can read my full column in JAMES Magazine below, or click HERE to check out the full latest edition.
A GOP Priority: Relief for Taxpayers
Georgia House Republicans are busy preparing for another successful Legislative Session under the Gold Dome, where our focus will remain on delivering meaningful results on the issues that matter most to the people of our great state, including continued tax relief.
This past year alone, House Republicans passed measures that returned more than $1 billion directly to hardworking Georgia taxpayers through a one-time special tax refund. We were also proud to work alongside Governor Kemp to accelerate the largest income tax rate cut in Georgia’s history, reducing the rate to just 5.19 percent. This cut means that Georgians can expect to save a total of over $880 million on next year’s tax returns.
These historic rate cuts and refunds are possible because, for decades, our state’s conservative leaders have prioritized fiscally responsible budgeting and pro-business policies that increase economic opportunity and strengthen state revenue through increased economic activity, not higher taxes.
Even as we have taken significant steps to reduce the overall tax burden on families and businesses, too many Georgians are facing skyrocketing property tax bills. Communities across the state are seeing strong growth and rising revenues, but local property tax assessments have dramatically outpaced what many Georgians can reasonably afford or be expected to pay.
In 2024, the House led the charge to address this very issue. Thanks to the leadership of House Ways and Means Chairman Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), we passed House Bill 581 with the intention of providing Georgians with much-needed property tax relief. This landmark measure established an optional statewide floating homestead exemption designed to cap annual property tax assessment increases at the rate of inflation, protecting Georgia’s homeowners from sudden, unaffordable increases in their tax bills.
When this measure was placed before voters during the 2024 General Election, Georgians spoke clearly. Nearly 63 percent of voters supported the reform, affirming the public’s desire for this much-needed relief—and it is clearly working. Over sixty local governments in Georgia have successfully opted into the exemption, and several other states have replicated the work we did here. Despite the overwhelming approval of this common-sense tax policy, 316 local government entities throughout Georgia have opted out of the floating homestead exemption, and some are even considering further property tax increases.
In recent months, local governments across the state have proposed or approved property tax increases anywhere from six percent to a staggering 158 percent in a single year. These soaring costs place an undue financial burden on retirees who are living on a fixed income, young families who are already struggling to establish roots in their communities because of housing costs, and small-business owners facing climbing commercial property valuations.
Georgia families work hard and budget to live within their means, and we should expect no less from our government at every level. When local entities determine that additional revenue is needed to fund essential services and operations, the proper and transparent path is to openly adjust the millage rate, allowing for public input and discussion. Relying on valuation increases undermines accountability and erodes trust in a system that should always put the needs of taxpayers first.
Responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars is the foundation of our state’s success, and no one knows how to spend their money better than the ones who earned it. That’s why when we return to the Capitol in January, House Republicans will once again champion opportunities to deliver property tax relief and ensure every Georgian can keep more of their money where it belongs—in their pockets.
The House is looking forward to gathering back under the Gold Dome to deliver real, meaningful relief for Georgia’s homeowners.
As always, please reach out and let me know how the House can work to address the issues most important to you and your families ahead of 2026.
My best,
Speaker Jon Burns