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SB 8

City of Plains; ad valorem taxes; homestead property determined annually for the special district based upon the proceeds of a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST); provide homestead exemption

2026 Special Session

SB 8 creates an annual homestead exemption for Plains’ special district funded by Local Homestead Option Sales Tax proceeds, altering ad valorem tax calculations.

Senate Tabled
#revenueandtaxation
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Bill Summary · SB 8

Summary of SB 8 (2026, Georgia) — City of Plains; ad valorem taxes; homestead property determination; Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST)

This summary distills the main purpose, key provisions, affected entities, and procedural/timeline aspects based on the bill text and accompanying legislative actions.

Purpose and intent

  • SB 8 seeks to modify ad valorem tax treatment for the City of Plains by establishing a framework to determine the homestead property tax base annually for the city’s special district.
  • The mechanism uses proceeds from a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) to support homestead exemptions. In short, the bill ties a local revenue source (LHOST proceeds) to funding or providing a homestead exemption within the relevant district.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of LHOST: Creation or specification of a Local Homestead Option Sales Tax whose proceeds will be used to support the homestead exemption for the city’s special district (Plains).
  • Annual determination of homestead property: The bill provides that homestead property determinations for the special district will be made on an annual basis, using the proceeds of LHOST as the basis or input for determining eligibility or exemption amounts.
  • Homestead exemption mechanism: The bill authorizes or prescribes an exemption for qualified homestead properties within the designated district, with the exemption potentially funded or offset by LHOST revenue.
  • Relationship to ad valorem taxes: Changes are targeted at ad valorem tax calculations for property within the City of Plains’ special district, aligning property tax obligations with the new annual homestead determination framework and LHOST funding.
  • Administration/administrative simplicity: Implicitly involves local tax authorities and officials for implementing annual determinations and applying exemptions, though specific administrative procedures are not fully detailed in the provided text.

Who is affected

  • Property owners within the City of Plains, specifically in the special district affected by the LHOST-funded homestead exemption.
  • The City of Plains’ tax assessment and collection processes, as well as local tax officials responsible for applying exemptions.
  • Local government finances, insofar as LHOST proceeds become a funding source for homestead exemptions and impact the district’s ad valorem revenue base.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: According to the action history:
    • Augmented or initial actions include Senate Hopper, Read and Referred, and subsequent committee actions.
    • The bill had a Senate Hopper filing on June 18, 2026, and was subsequently reported favorably by the Senate Committee on June 22, 2026, with related motions (Notice to Reconsider, Reconsidered, Tabled) occurring the same day.
  • Current posture: After committee favorability and related actions, the bill has undergone reconsideration steps and tabled status in the Senate, indicating it faced procedural moves that may affect advancement to a floor vote.
  • Effective date: The provided information does not specify an explicit effective date; typically, tax-related provisions include a date of applicability or phased implementation, which would be clarified in the full bill text.

Additional considerations

  • Local fiscal impact: The introduction of an LHOST-funded homestead exemption could alter the district’s revenue mix and impact annual tax levy calculations.
  • Constitutional/statutory alignment: The proposal would need to be consistent with Georgia’s constitutional provisions on ad valorem taxation, local option sales taxes, and homestead exemptions; potential requirements may include voter approval or compliance with state guidance for LHOST programs.
  • Oversight and administration: Effective implementation would depend on local tax assessors’ capacity to determine annual homestead eligibility and apply exemptions based on LHOST proceeds.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize fiscal impact estimates, potential tax relief amounts, or compare it to similar LHOST-based mechanisms in other Georgia jurisdictions, provided more detailed text or fiscal notes are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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