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Read. Follow. Verify.Covington County Constitutional Amendment Authorizes Property Tax Freeze for Residents 65 and Older
Last action · March 10, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Matthew Hammett
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What This Bill Does
Alabama lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment allowing Covington County property owners aged 65 or older to freeze their property's assessed value for tax purposes starting October 1, 2027, provided they have lived in the home as their primary residence for at least five years.
Qualifying Covington County seniors will see their property tax assessment frozen at the value from the year prior to claiming the exemption, shielding them from general increases in home valuation while keeping them subject to changes and taxes on any new home additions.
- Local constitutional amendments in Alabama require approval by a majority of statewide voters on a ballot referendum before taking effect in the specified county. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Covington County property owners 65 years of age or older
Eligible residents can freeze their property's assessed value for ad valorem tax purposes after meeting residency requirements.
Covington County Revenue Commissioner
The office is responsible for receiving written claims for the senior property tax exemption between October 1 and December 31.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Covington County senior property tax exemption?
When does the property tax exemption take effect?
How do eligible residents apply for the exemption?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
20 actions- Mar 10, 2026HouseEnrolledEnacted
- Mar 10, 2026HouseSent to Secretary of State
- Mar 10, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSignature Requested
- Mar 10, 2026HouseEnrolled
- Mar 10, 2026HouseReady to Enroll
Show 14 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026SenateChambliss Local Certification Resolution - Adopted Roll Call 748
- Mar 10, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 747
- Mar 10, 2026SenateThird Reading in Second House
- Mar 5, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Mar 5, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Mar 3, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Mar 3, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation
- Mar 3, 2026HouseLocalCertificationResolutionAdopted
- Mar 3, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 665
- Mar 3, 2026HouseThird Reading in House of Origin
- Feb 26, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Feb 26, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Feb 24, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation
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
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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