State Issues
Property Tax Reform - What you need to know
April 27, 2026
As of April 2026, Senate Bill 33 has emerged as one of the most closely watched pieces of legislation affecting homeowners and the real estate market in Georgia. The bill now sits on the Governor’s desk, with a decision expected by early May. At its core, SB 33 is an attempt to address a growing concern: property taxes rising faster than people can keep up with. SB 33 seeks to address this issue by capping annual increases in property tax assessments at the rate of inflation.
Over the past several years, home values across Georgia have increased significantly. As assessed values climb, so do property tax bills—often at a pace that outstrips inflation. For many homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes, this has created a sense of “taxation by valuation,” where they are effectively penalized for market conditions beyond their control. This gap between inflation and property tax growth is a key driver behind the push for reform.
Another significant component of the bill is the creation of a Local Homestead Option Sales Tax, or LHOST. This provision would allow local governments to adopt a 1% sales tax to offset reductions in property tax revenue. The idea is to broaden the tax base by capturing contributions from visitors, commuters, and others who benefit from local services but do not pay property taxes.
About the PBOR Market Brief
The Paulding Board of REALTORS® (PBOR) Market Brief is compiled by First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). For more information on details of this month's report, please contact the Board at 770.866.1397.
*Each month, the numbers reported for the previous month are updated to reflect additional recordings.
About the Paulding Board of REALTORS®
The Paulding Board of REALTORS® (PBOR) has been an instrumental factor in the growth of real estate in Paulding County, Georgia for more than a decade. PBOR 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 First Multiple Listing Service
First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) is the premier data services provider for real estate professionals in Georgia. FMLS was founded in 1957 by a group of Brokers who wanted to share their listings and connect buyers and sellers. Today FMLS is the largest MLS in Georgia & the 4th largest MLS in the United States, serving nearly 54,000 real estate Agents & Brokers. For additional information or to start a discussion about how to partner with FMLS please contact join@fmls.com.