NC Senate advances bill delaying 2026 property tax revaluations

(WWAY) — The North Carolina Senate has given final approval to a bill that would halt property tax revaluation changes in 2026.

Senate Bill 889 passed Wednesday in a 35-8 vote and now heads to the North Carolina House of Representatives for consideration.

The proposal would freeze any property value adjustments prompted by a reappraisal in 2026, while allowing those updated values to take effect in 2027. Lawmakers say the temporary pause would give the General Assembly more time to consider broader property tax reforms.

The bill is sponsored by Phil Berger, Brent Jackson and Steve Jarvis.

“This is a good first step for residents across North Carolina who are feeling the tax impacts of increasing property values,” Berger said in a statement. “This will not be the last thing the General Assembly does on property taxes.”

Jackson described the measure as a temporary pause intended to give residents “some breathing room,” while Jarvis said the proposal balances local government budget needs with concerns from homeowners facing rising property values.

Earlier this year, Berger selected a group of Republican senators to evaluate policy proposals related to property taxes. Lawmakers say additional recommendations are expected during the short session.