Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R-GA) has applauded the progress made on a key priority for the 2026 Legislative Session – property tax reform. The Senate Committee on Finance will meet today to consider Senate Bill (SB) 382, which would make annual caps on increases in home values mandatory across the state.
In 2024, the Senate passed a separate bill, SB 349, with a bipartisan vote of 42-7, in an effort to address rising property taxes. This session, key elements of that bill are back in for consideration in SB 382, which is sponsored by State Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome).
SB 382
This legislation would make annual caps on increases in home values mandatory for any jurisdiction that does not already have such a system in place and would eliminate the ability of local governments to opt out of the annual caps, as Georgia law currently allows.
The bill would also make the state-wide base year homestead exemption mandatory for all political subdivisions, and it would repeal a related tax bill requirement. It would also repeal other laws that conflict with its reforms.
Lt. Gov. Jones has led on this issue for over three years and is persistent about getting this legislation passed. In a recent comment, he thanked Sen. Hufstetler and encouraged the Georgia House of Representatives to join the Senate in this effort.
Jones added, “The Senate passed this same legislation two years ago, and I am encouraged that the House will join the Senate, as we continue to keep costs low and put more money back in Georgians’ pockets.”
Jones's Priority
Jones previously announced that this would be his top priority for the 2026 legislative session and issued similar encouragements. For him, it’s all about providing relief for Georgians facing higher taxes and a complex taxation process.
He stated, “I encourage our friends in the House to agree with us this time and prioritize making the property tax process both less confusing and less expensive for Georgia taxpayers.”
Lt. Governor Burt Jones Applauds Senate Consideration of Property Tax Reform
“The Senate passed this same legislation two years ago, and I am encouraged that the House will join the Senate, as we continue to keep costs low and put more money back in Georgians’ pockets.”
Link:… pic.twitter.com/QKetSSYxEH
— Lt. Governor Burt Jones (@LtGovJonesGA) January 28, 2026
