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HB 9

Madison County; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

2026 Special Session Introduced by Rob Leverett and 1 co-sponsor

Madison County would establish or expand a homestead exemption to reduce residential property taxes for qualifying homeowners.

House Lost Reconsidered Bill/Resolution
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Bill Summary · HB 9

HB 9 (2026_ss) — Madison County; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

Purpose and intent

  • The bill proposes to modify ad valorem (property) tax treatment in Madison County by creating or expanding a homestead exemption. The exact mechanism (new exemption, increase to an existing exemption, or targeted relief for qualifying homeowners) is intended to reduce property tax burden on qualifying residential property.
  • Overall goal: provide financial relief to homeowners through a targeted homestead exemption within Madison County’s property tax framework.

Key provisions and changes (substantive elements)

  • Establishment or expansion of a homestead exemption for residential properties within Madison County. This typically reduces the equalized assessed value (EAV) of eligible properties used to calculate property taxes.
  • Eligibility criteria (as commonly set in homestead exemptions) likely include:
    • The property being the homeowner’s primary residence.
    • Ownership requirements (e.g., owner-occupied as of a specified date).
    • Possible income or age limitations (e.g., senior exemptions) or exemptions may be broad if intended for general homeowners.
  • Exemption amount: the bill would specify the dollar value or percentage of the assessed value that would be exempt from taxation, or a cap on the amount of tax relief provided. This could be a fixed amount per qualifying home or a percentage reduction.
  • Implementation mechanics: how the exemption is applied in the county tax rolls, including processes for filing, certification, and approval. This often includes:
    • Required applications or declarations by homeowners.
    • Department/office responsible for administering the exemption (e.g., Tax Assessor’s Office).
    • Annual or periodic renewal requirements.
  • Interaction with other exemptions: the bill may specify how this new homestead exemption interacts with existing exemptions or abatements (e.g., senior or disability exemptions) to avoid overlap or double benefits.
  • Revenue impact provisions: language addressing the potential fiscal impact on Madison County’s tax digest, local funding, and any anti-propensity for shifting tax burdens to non-exempt property.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: homeowners in Madison County who qualify for the homestead exemption (likely owner-occupied, principal residences).
  • Property owners not meeting eligibility (e.g., rental properties, second homes) would not receive the exemption.
  • Local government and tax officials: would implement and administer the exemption, adjust the tax rolls, and communicate requirements to residents.
  • Potential indirect effects: changes in tax liability could influence property values, housing affordability, and county revenue used for local services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative process: Based on the action history, the bill progressed through committee and was reported favorably, with several notable steps:
    • House Hopper and First/Second/Third Reads, with committee favorably reporting on 2026-06-20.
    • Subsequent actions included reconsideration steps and passages within the House on 2026-06-20 and related reconsideration activity on 2026-06-22.
  • Effective date: The bill would specify when the exemption takes effect (often the tax year following enactment or a later date), and whether it applies retroactively to the current year. This detail would be in the bill’s text (not fully included here).
  • Administration: Post-enactment, Madison County Tax Assessor and related offices would administer and verify eligibility, with potential annual filings to maintain exemption status.

Additional notes

  • The current summary is based on typical features of homestead exemption bills and the provided bill context. The precise exemption amount, eligibility criteria, filing deadlines, and effective dates should be verified in the official bill text once released, as the provided excerpt contains limited textual content.
  • Co-sponsors listed: Rob Leverett and Alan Powell. This may indicate bipartisan or cross-constituency support in the sponsoring chamber.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize fiscal impact estimates, compare with existing Madison County exemptions, or extract specific dates and dollar amounts directly from the full bill text when available.

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

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