Georgia General Assembly passes bill establishing compensation options for property owners affected by local government actions

A bill from State Rep. Houston Gaines, designed to create a process for property owners to seek compensation when local government actions reduce property value or cause additional costs, has passed both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

On Friday, April 3, the legislation cleared the House in a 93-76 vote, and passed the Senate 34-19.

Filed as HB295 on Wednesday, Feb. 5 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the bill was officially described as: ‘Local government; procedures for real property owners to make claims for compensation for loss of property value or expenses incurred; provisions’.

This summary draws on the actual bill text and includes clear interpretation of its contents.

The legislation puts in place procedures for property owners to seek compensation from local governments for decreases in property value or similar costs. These losses might arise from a government’s failure to enforce certain laws, or by allowing continuing public nuisances. The act details who is eligible, methods for calculating payments, and how claims are to be filed. Local governments must respond to claims within 30 days; if denied, property owners can appeal in court. The law allows compensation agreements and restricts claims to once per tax year, except for ongoing nuisances. Key features include a waiver of sovereign immunity and the suspension of the statute of limitations during consideration. Exceptions are provided for mandatory federal or state orders and prosecutorial discretion. Any conflicting laws are repealed by this Act.

During the House vote, the measure received support from 93 Republicans, with opposition coming from 75 Democrats and one Republican.

In the Senate, the bill passed with support from two Democrats and 32 Republicans, while 19 Democrats opposed it.

Rep. Victor Anderson (Republican-10th), Rep. Clint Crowe (Republican-118th), and Rep. Jan Jones (Republican-47th) joined as co-sponsors along with three additional co-sponsors.

Gaines holds a BA from the University of Georgia.

A Republican, Gaines was elected in 2023 to represent Georgia’s 120th House District, succeeding previous representative Trey Rhodes.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law on Tuesday, May 12.

The legislative process in Georgia often begins when a legislator drafts a bill with Legislative Counsel, sometimes in response to constituent requests. The bill is submitted to either the House or Senate, for its first reading, then assigned to a committee for discussion and review. If passed by the committee, it goes for a third reading, then full debate and chamber vote. To become law, a bill must pass both chambers and reconcile any differences through a conference committee, then go to the governor, who has six days during the session—or 40 days after adjournment—to sign, veto, or allow it to become law without a signature. The legislative session covers 40 days from the second Monday in January each year.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.