The 2026 General Assembly passed Senate Bill 33, the Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act, making significant changes to how Georgia local governments may provide property tax relief to homeowners. The bill creates a new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST), adjusts how existing FLOST revenue is applied, and extends the statewide floating homestead exemption to all jurisdictions that had previously opted out.
GMA has prepared this guide summarizing the key provisions of SB 33 that affect municipalities, including eligibility requirements, implementation steps, and what city officials should consider before deciding whether LHOST participation makes sense for their community.
A SB 33 one-page chart comparing FLOST vs LHOST is also available.