---
title: HB 1537. Bibb County; ad valorem tax for educational purposes; provide a homestead exemption
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1537
cite_as: HB 1537, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74015
date: 2026-05-12
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 886
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1537
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-12
last_action: Effective Date 2026-05-12
sponsors:
  - Tangie Herring
  - Miriam Paris
  - Anissa Jones
  - Floyd Griffin
  - Dale Washburn
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1537/2025
upstream_id: 2132156
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - property taxes
  - homestead exemption
  - Bibb County schools
  - senior citizens
  - local referendum
---

# HB 1537. Bibb County; ad valorem tax for educational purposes; provide a homestead exemption

## Text

House Bill 1537 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Herring of the 145th, Paris of the 142nd, Jones of the 143rd, Griffin of the
149th, and Washburn of the 144th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To provide a homestead exemption from Bibb County school district ad valorem taxes for
educational purposes in the amount of $17,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for
residents of that school district who are between the ages of 65 and 74; to provide a
homestead exemption from Bibb County school district ad valorem taxes for educational
purposes in the amount of $32,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents
of that school district who are between the ages of 75 and 84; to provide a homestead
exemption from Bibb County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the
amount of the full assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who
are 85 years of age and older; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions
of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide
for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates,
automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure
to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
(a) As used in this Act, the term:
(1) "Ad valorem taxes for educational purposes" means all ad valorem taxes for
educational purposes levied by, for, or on behalf of the Bibb County school district,
including, but not limited to, any ad valorem taxes to pay interest on and to retire county
school district bonded indebtedness.
(2) "Homestead" means homestead as defined and qualified in Code Section 48-5-40 of
the O.C.G.A., as amended.
(b)(1) Each resident of the Bibb County school district who is between the ages of 65 and
74 is granted an exemption on such person's homestead from Bibb County school district
ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $17,000.00 of the assessed
value of such homestead. The value of that property in excess of such exempted amount
shall remain subject to taxation.
(2) Each resident of the Bibb County school district who is between the ages of 75 and
84 is granted an exemption on such person's homestead from Bibb County school district
ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $32,000.00 of the assessed
value of such homestead. The value of that property in excess of such exempted amount
shall remain subject to taxation.
(3) Each resident of the Bibb County school district who is 85 years of age or older is
granted an exemption on such person's homestead from Bibb County school district ad
valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of the full assessed value of such
homestead.
(c) A person shall not receive the homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this
section unless such person or person's agent files an application with the tax commissioner
of Bibb County, giving such person's age and such additional information relative to
receiving such exemption as will enable the tax commissioner of Bibb County to make a
determination regarding the initial and continuing eligibility of such person for such
exemption. The tax commissioner of Bibb County shall provide application forms for this
purpose.
(d) The exemption shall be claimed and returned as provided in Code Section 48-5-50.1 of
the O.C.G.A., as amended. The exemption shall be automatically renewed from year to year
so long as the person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b) of this section
occupies the residence as a homestead. After such person has filed the proper application as
provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary to make application
thereafter for any year, and such exemption shall continue to be allowed to such person. It
shall be the duty of any such person granted the homestead exemption under subsection (b)
of this section to notify the tax commissioner of Bibb County in the event that such person
for any reason becomes ineligible for such exemption.
(e) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to or affect any
state ad valorem taxes, county ad valorem taxes for county purposes, municipal ad valorem
taxes for municipal purposes, or independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational
purposes. The homestead exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall be in lieu
of and not in addition to any other homestead exemption applicable to Bibb County school
district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes.
(f) The exemption granted by subsection (b) of this section shall apply to all taxable years
beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
SECTION 2.
In accordance with the requirements of Article VII, Section II of the Constitution of the State
of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the requisite two-thirds' majority
vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
SECTION 3.
The election superintendent of Bibb County shall call and conduct an election as provided
in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the Bibb County
school district for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that
election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 2026, and shall issue the call
and conduct that election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall
cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks
immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of Bibb County. The ballot shall
have written or printed thereon the words:
"( ) YES Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from
Bibb County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes:
( ) NO (1) In the amount of $17,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead
for residents of that county who are between the ages of 65 and 74;
(2) In the amount of $32,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead
for residents of that county who are between the ages of 75 and 84; and
(3) In the amount of the full assessed value of the homestead for residents
who are 85 years of age and older?"
All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring
to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on
such question are for approval of the Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full force and
effect on January 1, 2027. If the Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted
as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective, and this Act shall
be automatically repealed on the 365th calendar day following the election date provided for
in this section. The expense of such election shall be borne by Bibb County. It shall be the
election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State. The
provisions of this section shall be mandatory upon the election superintendent and are not
intended as directory. If the election superintendent fails or refuses to comply with this
section, any elector of the Bibb County school district may apply for a writ of mandamus to
compel the election superintendent to perform his or her duties under this section. If the court
finds that the election superintendent has not complied with this section, the court shall
fashion appropriate relief requiring the election superintendent to call and conduct such
election on the date required by this section or on the next date authorized for special
elections provided for in Code Section 21-2-540 of the O.C.G.A.
SECTION 4.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 3 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon
its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

House Bill 1537 would create new school tax exemptions for older homeowners in the Bibb County school district, with the size of the break growing by age group, pending voter approval in November 2026.

### Plain-language summary

This bill creates a tiered homestead exemption from Bibb County school district property taxes for educational purposes, based on the homeowner's age. Residents aged 65 to 74 would get a $17,000 exemption on their home's assessed value, those 75 to 84 would get $32,000, and those 85 and older would have their homestead's full assessed value exempted from school taxes. The exemption applies only to school district taxes, not state, county, or municipal taxes, and replaces rather than adds to any other school tax homestead exemption a person already has.
Homeowners must apply through the Bibb County tax commissioner and, once approved, do not need to reapply each year unless they become ineligible. Because the bill affects a special constitutional tax exemption, it needs a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers and must also be approved by Bibb County school district voters in a November 2026 referendum. If approved, it takes effect January 1, 2027; if rejected or the election isn't held, the bill repeals itself automatically.

### What it does

- Creates a $17,000 school tax exemption on the assessed value of a home for Bibb County school district residents aged 65 to 74.
- Creates a $32,000 school tax exemption for residents aged 75 to 84.
- Fully exempts the homestead's assessed value from Bibb County school district taxes for residents 85 and older.
- Requires homeowners to apply once with the Bibb County tax commissioner, after which the exemption renews automatically each year.
- Makes the exemption apply only to school district educational taxes, not state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes.
- Requires voter approval in a November 2026 referendum before the exemption can take effect, with automatic repeal if voters reject it.

### Who it affects

Homeowners age 65 and older who live in the Bibb County school district and claim a homestead exemption, the Bibb County tax commissioner's office, which processes applications, and the Bibb County election superintendent, who must run the required referendum.

### Why it matters

Older homeowners in the Bibb County school district could see a meaningful reduction, or in some cases elimination, of their school property tax bill starting in 2027, but only if voters approve the measure in a November 2026 referendum; if rejected, nothing changes and the law disappears.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 sets the three age-based exemption tiers ($17,000, $32,000, full value) and defines 'homestead' by reference to existing state law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-40).
- Section 1(c) and (d) require an initial application to the Bibb County tax commissioner, with automatic renewal unless the homeowner becomes ineligible.
- Section 1(e) limits the exemption to school district educational taxes only and makes it replace, not stack with, other school tax homestead exemptions.
- Section 1(f) sets the exemption to apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
- Section 2 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate for the exemption to become law, as required by the Georgia Constitution.
- Section 3 requires a Bibb County school district referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with automatic repeal 365 days after the election if voters reject it or no election is held.
- Section 4 sets the general effective date as approval by the Governor, except for the referendum-dependent provisions in Section 3.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-05-12)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-05-12 (2026-05-12)
- Sponsors: Tangie Herring, Miriam Paris, Anissa Jones, Floyd Griffin, Dale Washburn
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74015

> The history, votes, and amendments (886 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1537.md?full=1