HB40 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip PettusRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Lauderdale County, ad valorem taxes, senior property tax appraisal, person 65 or older, ca

Summary

Lauderdale County would allow residents 65 and older who own and live in a single-family home to receive a senior property tax exemption with a freeze on the property's assessed value for the year before the exemption starts.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the amendment lets a 65+ owner of a single-family, owner-occupied home in Lauderdale County claim a senior property tax exemption on their real property, provided the home has been their principal residence for at least five years before the first claim. Once claimed, the assessed value is frozen for the year prior to the claim, and the exemption remains as long as the home continues to be the owner's principal residence. The owner can still receive homestead and other exemptions, and millage rate changes apply; additions to the property after claiming the exemption will be taxed based on the increased assessed value. The exemption can be claimed starting Oct 1, 2025 for the property value as of Oct 1, 2024, by filing a written request with the Lauderdale County Revenue Commissioner between Oct 1 and Dec 31.

Who It Affects

• Senior homeowners age 65 or older in Lauderdale County who own and occupy a single-family home as their principal residence and have lived there at least five years prior to the first claim.
• Lauderdale County tax officials, including the Revenue Commissioner, who administer the exemption, process applications, and manage changes to assessed values and exemptions.

Key Provisions

• Eligibility: 65+ owner of a single-family, owner-occupied home in Lauderdale County must use the property as principal residence for at least five years prior to first claim.
• Exemption effect: freezes the property's assessed value for the year immediately prior to the year the exemption is first claimed.
• Continuity: exemption remains as long as the property continues to be the owner's principal residence; owner remains eligible for homestead and other exemptions; millage rate changes still apply; additions after claiming are taxed based on the increased assessed value.
• Claiming timeline: may be claimed beginning October 1, 2025 for the value as of October 1, 2024; must be claimed in writing with the Lauderdale County Revenue Commissioner between October 1 and December 31.
• Constitutional change process: if ratified, the amendment will be incorporated into the Alabama Constitution; the Code Commissioner may make nonsubstantive revisions for style and references.

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

Subjects

Lauderdale County