Glynn County homeowners wouldn't see their property taxes increase dramatically just because their house was destroyed by a natural disaster or crime under a measure backed by the county's legislative delegation.

House Bill 1282, sponsored by House Majority Leader Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island, and co-sponsored by Reps. Roger Lane, R-Darien, and Cecily Hill, R-Kingsland, has to gain the approval of the House and Senate before going to voters in a referendum.

The proposal arose after a house fire on St. Simons Island exposed a flaw in the current freeze on property valuations for tax assessment purposes, lawmakers said.

The homeowner soon found out that his tax bill would be subject to a dramatic increase. Even though homestead exemption could be re-applied for on the new, rebuilt dwelling, the higher valuation of the new house and appreciated land became the basis for taxation.

Currently, a homeowner's property tax bill can only increase if the county raises its millage; property value reassessments are frozen and don't automatically trigger an increase.

But that changes if a person's home is burned down or destroyed by a natural disaster, a real concern in a coastal county, Keen said.

"Your taxes are going to double, triple or even worse," he said.

The destruction of the St. Simons Island home was the first indication lawmakers had that the problem existed.

"Candidly, I didn't realize that and nobody did until this situation arose," Keen said.

Local legislation is usually passed as a courtesy if the delegation supports it, meaning House approval is almost assured.

Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, says he supports the idea of the legislation, though he hasn't had an opportunity to study the proposal in detail.

"I don't envision having any difficulty with that," Chapman said.