Walker County; senior property tax exemption authorized; constitutional amendment
SB 56 proposes a constitutional amendment for Walker County, Alabama, allowing residents aged 65 or older to claim a property tax exemption on their primary residence. To qualify, individuals must own a single-family home as their main home for at least five years and apply in writing between October 1 and December 31, 2027. The exemption freezes the property’s assessed value from the year before claiming it, though taxes may still rise if local millage rates increase. It does not affect eligibility for other exemptions like homestead benefits, and the exemption continues as long as the property remains the owner’s primary residence. The amendment requires voter approval to take effect.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Signed into Law
Jan 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Jan 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Jan 29, 2026
MODERATE
The bill transitioned from an introduced draft to an enrolled, final version ready for signing. The primary substantive change is the addition of specific eligibility criteria, requiring the property to be owner-occupied and used as the principal residence for at least five years before the exemption can be claimed. The final version also clarifies the application window (October 1 to December 31) and includes standard administrative language for how the amendment will be added to the state constitution.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on Walker County, but the applicability is now restricted to individuals who have lived in the property as their primary home for a minimum of five years prior to claiming the exemption.
ELIGIBILITY
Added a requirement that the property must be owned by the individual and classified as single-family owner-occupied residential property.
Added a condition that the property must have been used as the individual's principal place of residence for not less than five years immediately prior to the tax year of the first claim.
REQUIREMENT
Specified that the exemption must be claimed in writing with the Walker County Revenue Commissioner between October 1 and December 31.
TECHNICAL
Included standard enrolled bill language regarding the Code Commissioner's role in formatting the amendment and instructions for the election ballot description.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
LocalCertificationResolutionAdopted
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 202
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Local Legislation)
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Chambliss Local Certification Resolution - Adopted Roll Call 42
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 41
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Local Legislation )
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Matt Woods
RRepublican
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