RPAC
Property Tax Relief and Reform Continues to Dominate 2026 Session
April 1, 2026
As the 2026 legislative session heads towards the finish line, the Georgia General Assembly continues to work through some significant property tax relief before it wraps up on April 2.
With rising home values driving higher tax bills across the state, lawmakers in both chambers introduced a range of proposals aimed at easing the burden on homeowners while grappling with how to maintain funding for local governments and schools.
Property taxes remain a cornerstone of local funding in Georgia, generating roughly two-thirds of revenue for schools and local services. This reality makes reform efforts both urgent and complex; legislators must balance tax relief with the need to sustain essential public services.
Key Legislative Efforts
Senate Bill 382, is one of the most significant efforts proposed this year and would require all local governments and school systems to adhere to a statewide cap on property tax increases tied to inflation. The bill builds on a 2024 voter-approved homestead exemption that limits annual increases in taxable home values.
In the House, lawmakers have advanced additional proposals, including House Bill 1116, which would cap annual property tax growth at 3% and provide new tools for local governments to manage revenue.
Budget Relief for Homeowners
In addition to policy changes, state leaders included direct relief in the fiscal year 2026 budget. The plan allocates hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax relief, with the average Georgia homeowner expected to see a reduction of around $500 on their tax bill.
What Comes Next
As the session heads toward its final weeks, property tax reform remains one of the most closely watched—and contested—issues. Lawmakers will continue to negotiate between immediate relief and long-term structural changes, with final decisions likely to shape Georgia’s tax landscape for years to come.
For REALTORS®, homeowners, and local communities alike, the outcome of these debates will have significant implications—not only for affordability, but also for how Georgia funds its schools, infrastructure, and public services in the future.
Georgia Breaks Trade Records, Becomes Top 10 Exporting State
Governor Brian P. Kemp recently announced the state has again made history by surpassing $60.2 billion in exports in calendar year 2025. This is a year-over-year increase of 12.7%, outperforming the national average of 5.6%. Thanks to an expanding and reliable logistics network and workforce, Georgia companies have increased exports over the past decade by 68.9% despite the disruptions of the pandemic six years ago.
With goods going to 213 unique countries and territories, Georgia also ranked No. 7 for dollar value of total trade and No. 9 in the country for dollar value of exports. Georgia was last in the top ten exporting states in 2020.
About the GMLRA Market Brief
The Georgia Mountains & Lakes REALTORS® Association (GMLRA) Market Brief is compiled by Georgia Multiple Listing Service (GAMLS). For more information on details of this month's report, please contact the Association at 404.845.4024.
*Each month, the numbers reported for the previous month are updated to reflect additional recordings.
About the Georgia Mountains & Lakes REALTORS® Association
The Georgia Mountains & Lakes REALTORS® Association (GMLRA) has been an instrumental factor in the growth of real estate in the Habersham, White and Rabun, Georgia area for more than a decade. GMLRA serves as a central source of information for its members, with mainly focusing on real estate education, the promotion of professionalism in the industry and representing REALTORS® members with legislative initiatives to create positive change for the real estate community.
About Georgia Multiple Listing Service
Since 1962 Georgia MLS has been providing real estate professionals with exceptional service, proven technology solutions, and unmatched value. With a laser-sharp focus on making the day-to-day tasks of our MLS subscribers more functional, more productive, and more profitable, we continue to implement the service blueprint that has led to our continued growth. For additional information or to start a discussion about how to partner with GAMLS please contact georgiamls@gamls.com.