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Read. Follow. Verify.City of Dahlonega Proposes Property Tax Homestead Exemption Funded by New Local Sales Tax
Last action · June 22, 2026: House Lost Reconsidered Bill/ResolutionSponsor: Will Wade
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 65EX proposes a homestead exemption from City of Dahlonega , funded by a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax () in Lumpkin County, subject to voter approval in a November 2026 referendum.
Property owners in Dahlonega could see their city property tax bills completely offset by sales tax revenue, provided voters approve the referendum scheduled for November 2026.
- Local Option Sales Taxes and Homestead Option Sales Taxes in Georgia are local-option sales taxes governed by state statute to provide property tax relief. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Homestead property owners in Dahlonega
Eligible homeowners may receive an exemption from city ad valorem taxes equal to the assessed value determined annually by LHOST sales tax proceeds.
City of Dahlonega
The city governing authority must bear the expense of the referendum election and will alter its property tax collection based on LHOST proceeds.
Key Facts
- Grants residents of the special district a homestead exemption from all city ad valorem taxes in the amount of the assessed value determined annually by net proceeds of a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST).
- Requires a referendum to be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, 2026, for city electors within the special district to approve or reject the Act.
- If approved by a majority of voters, Section 1 of the Act becomes effective on January 1, 2027, and remains in effect through December 31, 2039.
- Property owners who previously received a homestead exemption for the city and remain eligible will have the new LHOST exemption renewed automatically without filing a new application.
Show all 5 facts
- If the referendum fails or is not conducted, the Act is automatically repealed on the 365th calendar day following the election date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will the homestead exemption be funded?
Do I need to submit a new application every year to receive the exemption?
When will the tax exemption take effect if passed?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
9 actions- Jun 22, 2026HouseHouse Reconsidered
- Jun 22, 2026HouseHouse Lost Reconsidered Bill/Resolution
- Jun 20, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Jun 20, 2026HouseHouse Third Readers
- Jun 20, 2026HouseHouse Third Reading Lost
- Jun 20, 2026HouseHouse Notice to Reconsider
Show 3 earlier actions
- Jun 18, 2026HouseHouse Second Readers
- Jun 17, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
- Jun 17, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Local Tax Structure Modification
The legislation attempts to shift local tax burdens from property owners to consumers through a dedicated sales tax mechanism.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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