2026 Legislative Session: Week 3 Review from Rep. Bruce Williamson

Dear Friends, 

I hope everyone stays safe as another winter storm moves through Georgia. Week 3 of the legislative session has concluded! It was a busy week with new bills being introduced and assigned to committees, and House committees are beginning to review each bill.

The exciting news of the week is the introduction of the Georgia HOME Act. House Republicans have introduced the Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026 (Georgia HOME Act). This legislation will provide property tax relief for homeowners across the state.

As they say, the “fine print” of this legislation is still in the works. Here are a few of the facts:

• Enables the total elimination of homestead property taxes on primary residences by 2032.
• Provides local governments with the tools they may need to recover lost revenue with an optional, flexible 5 penny local sales tax.
• Allows for optional local assessments and fees.
• Caps revenue growth to 3% for non-improved/non-exempt properties by 2032.
• Provides Homeowner Tax Relief Grants (HTRG).
• Doubles the State Homestead Exemption every other year until 2032.

Once the legislation’s final details are finalized, approved by the General Assembly, and signed by the Governor, this Georgia HOME ACT will be put before you, the voters, as a ballot referendum to decide. Read more by clicking on the button

Georgia HOME ACT

Legislation is being introduced. Here is a partial list of notable bills:

Income Tax Credit

HB 1000 is a one-time tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for the 2024 and 2025 taxable years. Qualifying taxpayers will receive $250 for a single taxpayer and $500 for a married couple joint return.

Income Tax Rate Reduction

HB 1001 will lower the state income tax rate to 4.99% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Math Matters Act

HB 1030 is a bill to improve students’ math achievement. It will require local school districts to establish advanced math courses at the middle and high school levels, providing our students with more tools upon graduation.

Redshirting Bill

HB 1048 will allow parents to decide when their child is ready to start school. This will allow parents to delay their children’s start in Kindergarten.

Distraction Free Education Act

#2HB 1009 would extend last year’s cell phone ban in public schools to grades 9 through 12. Last year, legislation was enacted banning cell phone use in grades K through 8.

Portable Health Benefit Plans

HB 987 would allow independent contractors to contribute to portable health benefit accounts and plans that follow them from job to job.

Additional News

The Georgia Promise Scholarship has passed its first year. The Promise Scholarship has had a successful launch. 7,744 students have participated in the program so far. From the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, “It’s hard to say for sure, but the Promise Scholarship has probably had the most successful launch of any school choice program in Georgia history. The state did not report student numbers for the tax-credit scholarship program until 2011, three years after it was created. But based on the number of donations received in the first year of the tax-credit scholarship (about $25 million), and average award amounts in the early years for which there was reporting (roughly $3,500), it most likely enrolled fewer students than the Promise Scholarship in its first year. Predictions of Doom for Georgia’s Promise Scholarship are Already Falling Apart

Speaker Burns and House Republicans announce the Georgia HOME ACT, eliminating property taxes on Georgia homesteads.

We had a terrific turnout of Walton County leaders at the Capitol this week, including our future leaders participating in our Youth Leadership Walton Program. I will always be Walton Proud!

I enjoyed visiting with Eitan Weiss, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, at a reception celebrating the return of Delta’s direct flights from Atlanta to Tel Aviv.

Had a great visit with Randy McGinley, Alcovy District DA, this week.

It was great to have Derry Boyd, the Walton County Tax Commissioner, at the Capitol.