SB330: SB330 City of Atlanta; independent school district ad valorem for educational purposes; provide homestead exemption

This bill creates a new homestead exemption for residents of the City of Atlanta who are 65 or older, shielding $50,000 of their home's assessed value from City of Atlanta independent school district property taxes that pay for education. The exemption would not apply to state, county, or municipal taxes, and it would be added on top of any other exemption a senior already qualifies for. The total amount of exemptions the city grants under this law is capped at $487,804,878 per year; if claims exceed that cap, each senior's exemption gets reduced proportionally. Seniors must apply once, and the exemption then renews automatically each year as long as they keep living in the home. Because the bill changes school tax law, it needed a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and must also be approved by City of Atlanta voters in a November 2025 referendum. If approved, it takes effect for tax years starting January 1, 2026; if rejected, the whole Act is automatically repealed a year after the election.

• Creates a $50,000 homestead exemption from City of Atlanta independent school district property taxes for residents 65 or older.
• Caps the total value of exemptions granted under the Act at $487,804,878 per year, reducing individual exemptions proportionally if claims exceed that amount.
• Requires seniors to file a one-time application with the City of Atlanta, after which the exemption renews automatically each year.
• Excludes the exemption from applying to state, county, municipal, or county school district taxes, limiting it strictly to City of Atlanta school taxes.
• Requires a citywide referendum in November 2025 before the exemption can take effect, with automatic repeal of the law if voters reject it or no election is held.

Homeowners age 65 or older who live in the City of Atlanta and are subject to City of Atlanta independent school district property taxes. It also involves the City of Atlanta's governing authority and election superintendent, who must administer applications, cap calculations, and the referendum.

If approved by voters, qualifying seniors would see a real reduction in their annual school property tax bill starting in 2026, since $50,000 of their home's value would no longer be taxed for education. The citywide funding cap means the exemption's value per person could shrink if too many seniors qualify.

• Section 1 defines key terms, sets the $50,000 exemption amount, and caps total annual exemptions citywide at $487,804,878, with proportional reductions if claims exceed the cap.
• Section 1(c) and (d) require a one-time application to the City of Atlanta or its designee, after which the exemption automatically renews each year.
• Section 1(e) clarifies the exemption applies only to City of Atlanta independent school district education taxes, not state, county, municipal, or county school taxes, and stacks with other exemptions.
• Section 1(f) sets the exemption to apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 3 requires a City of Atlanta referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject it or the election is not held.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as upon the Governor's approval, except for the referendum provisions in Section 3.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 358
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-04-04House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-04-04House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)

• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)Primary sponsor
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #250

2. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   150 yea, 7 nay (12 not voting, 11 absent)

   Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #437

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• senior citizens
• Atlanta schools
• City of Atlanta referendum