Rules committee advances $1.17 billion tax-refund bill that would send Georgians up to $500

Representative Townsend presented House Bill 1000 on March 12, 2026, telling the Senate Rules Committee the measure would provide a $1.17 billion tax refund to Georgia residents. “This is a tax refund for Georgians, to the amount of $1,170,000,000, and it will be given out in the form of $250 for an individual filer, $375 for a head of household, and $500 for those married filing jointly,” she said.

The proposal, described to the committee as a one-time distribution, would direct payments after taxpayers file their returns for the year and after the Legislature passes the bill. Representative Townsend said there would be no state fiscal impact beyond the total appropriation described, and committee members asked when recipients could expect to receive payments; she replied checks would be available as soon as filers submit their returns and the bill is enacted.

A question from Senator Rhett focused on timing; Townsend reiterated that the distribution depends on filing and the bill’s final enactment. The Rules Committee later included HB1000 among a batch of bills it advanced to the general rules calendar by unanimous motion.

If the bill proceeds, state officials will need to determine administrative processes for verifying filers and issuing refunds. The committee did not vote on the measure in isolation at this meeting; instead, it was selected as part of the batch motion that the committee approved to move several measures to the general calendar.

The committee adjourned after advancing the selected items; HB1000’s next procedural step is placement on the general calendar for floor consideration.