Rep. Tangie Herring Celebrates Legislation Passed During 2026 Legislative Session

ATLANTA - State Representative Tangie Herring (D-Macon) celebrates legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session, including measures that would provide tax relief for Macon-Bibb seniors, mental health resources for Georgia students, as well as other bipartisan legislative measures.

During the legislative session, Rep. Herring sponsored House Bill 1537 and House Bill 1538, which would provide property tax relief for senior homeowners in Macon-Bibb County. The bills would establish tiered homestead exemptions from both Bibb County School District ad valorem taxes and general Bibb County ad valorem taxes.

"Our seniors have spent decades contributing to the fabric of Macon-Bibb, having paid into our systems and supported our local governments for generations," said Rep. Herring. "With the passage of these bills, we are finally providing them with the cumulative financial breathing room they deserve. This is not just a policy change; it is about providing dignity and housing security for our most respected neighbors by cutting their tax burdens."

Under both pieces of legislation, the exemption amounts are structured to increase as residents age, in order to provide further relief during their retirement years. For both school and county taxes, residents between the ages of 65 and 74 would receive a $17,000 exemption of the assessed value, and those between 75 and 84 would receive a $32,000 exemption. Notably, both bills would provide a full exemption of the assessed value for any resident aged 85 or older, with the goal of eliminating these specific tax burdens.

Furthermore, Rep. Herring applauds the final passage Senate Bill 589, the You Are Not Alone Act, which seeks to promote greater awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Georgia public schools. Rep. Herring originally sponsored similar legislation, House Bill 1045, which was later incorporated into SB 589, which now awaits Governor Kemp's signature.

"For too many of our students, the pressures of the world today can feel insurmountable," Rep. Herring said when she spoke in favor of SB 589 on the House floor. "The most dangerous feeling a young person can have is the belief that they are facing their struggles in total isolation, but SB 589 changes that. By ensuring greater awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in our schools, we are placing a lifeline directly into the hands of our students. We are making sure that when a crisis hits, they don't just have a number to call; they have a path to hope and professional assistance."

In further support of mental health legislation, Rep. Herring also applauds the General Assembly's efforts to secure $2.9 million in the Fiscal Year 2027 budgetto support mental health crisis intervention services through the 988 hotline.

Additionally, Rep. Herring applauds the Fiscal Year 2026 Amended Budget, which filled an $85.7 million deficit in the Department of Family and Child Services, ensuring vulnerable children suffer fewer disruptions to their care and family reunifications. Rep. Herring also applauds House Bill 1199, which suspended the state gas tax, providing financial relief at the gas pump. Lastly, Rep. Herring applauds House Bill 1283, which would establish Family Justice Centers to provide one facility for victims of family violence, sexual assault and human trafficking to receive care. The bill also supports victims of sexual assault by expanding the retention period for sexual assault evidence kits from one year to 10 years, giving survivors more time to seek justice.

Representative Tangie Herring represents the citizens of District 145, which includes portions of Bibb and Monroe counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism and Urban Affairs committees.

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