The proposed bill seeks to amend the Constitution of Alabama of 2022 to allow qualified taxpayers aged 65 and older in Blount County to claim a senior property tax exemption on their real property. This exemption applies to single-family owner-occupied residential properties that have been the principal residence of the taxpayer for at least five years prior to the tax year in which the exemption is claimed. The assessed value of the property will be frozen at the value from the year before the exemption is claimed, and the exemption can be claimed starting October 1, 2027, for the property value as of October 1, 2026.
Additionally, the bill outlines specific conditions for maintaining the exemption, including the requirement that the property continues to be the taxpayer's principal residence and that the taxpayer remains eligible for other exemptions. The property will still be subject to any changes in millage rates, and any additions to the property after claiming the exemption will be assessed separately for tax purposes. The bill also includes provisions for the election process to ratify the amendment, which will be presented to voters with a ballot description. The language of the bill includes the insertion of "Enrolled," and the date of Senate passage is noted as February 25, 2026.