HB488 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Louise AlexanderAlan BakerMike BallBarbara Bigsby BoydChip BrownK.L. BrownJim CarnsAdline ClarkeMerika ColemanTerri CollinsDanny CrawfordAnthony DanielsDickie DrakeBrett EasterbrookTracy EstesAllen FarleyJoe FaustBob FincherBerry ForteDanny GarrettVictor GastonJeremy GrayLynn GreerDexter GrimsleyRolanda HollisMike HolmesSteve HurstReed IngramGil IsbellSam JonesKelvin LawrenceNathaniel LedbetterCraig LipscombJoe LovvornRhett MarquesMac McCutcheonSteve McMillanParker MooreBecky NordgrenEd OliverPhillip PettusRex ReynoldsKerry RichJohn W. RogersHoward SanderfordRod ScottChris SellsGinny ShaverRandall SheddHarry ShiverJeff SorrellsScott StadthagenDavid StandridgeRodney SullivanAllen TreadawayTim WadsworthPebblin W. WarrenDavid WheelerAndy WhittRitchie WhortonRich WingoDebbie Wood

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Ad valorem tax on real property, senior property tax appraisal for persons age 70 or older on principal residence used for 10 years, appraisal value frozen on immediate prior year, exceptions, rules by Revenue Dept.

Summary

HB488 would allow residents aged 70 or older who have used their home as their principal residence for at least 10 years to freeze the property's assessed value for ad valorem taxes through a senior property tax appraisal.

What This Bill Does

If you are age 70 or older and have lived in your home as your principal residence for at least 10 years, you could claim a senior property tax appraisal that freezes the assessed value for the year immediately before you claim the senior appraisal. The freeze would continue as long as you keep the property as your principal residence. You would still be eligible for the homestead exemption, the property would stay subject to millage rate changes, and any additions to the property would be added to the appraised value after you claim the senior property tax appraisal. The Department of Revenue could adopt rules to implement the act, the act would repeal any conflicting laws, and it would take effect on October 1 after passage.

Who It Affects

• Senior homeowners aged 70 or older who have owned and used the property as their principal residence for at least 10 years, who would have the property’s assessed value frozen for ad valorem tax purposes.
• Homeowners who make additions to the property after claiming the senior appraisal would have those additions added to the appraised value, potentially affecting future tax amounts.

Key Provisions

• A person aged 70 or older may claim a senior property tax appraisal for real property used as the principal place of residence for not less than 10 years immediately prior to the tax year in which the claim is first made.
• The senior property tax appraisal freezes the assessed value for the year immediately prior to the claim and remains in effect as long as the property continues to be the person’s principal residence.
• The owner may still claim the homestead exemption; the property remains subject to millage rate changes; and the appraised value of any additions to the property after the claim shall be added to the appraised value.
• The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to implement the act; conflicting laws are repealed; and the act becomes effective October 1 after its passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Taxation