HB1573: HB1573 Statham, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption

This bill sets up two new homestead exemptions from City of Statham property taxes that fund city government operations (not taxes for paying off municipal bonds). Statham residents age 62 or older would get an exemption of $20,000 off the assessed value of their home for city tax purposes. Residents 67 or older would get an additional $10,000 exemption on top of that, for a combined $30,000 reduction. These exemptions would not affect state taxes, county taxes, or school taxes. Because this changes local tax law, the Georgia Constitution requires a two thirds vote in the House and Senate, which the bill states it received. It also must be approved by Statham voters in a referendum set for November 2026. If voters approve it, the exemptions take effect for tax years starting January 1, 2027. If voters reject it or no election is held, the whole Act repeals itself automatically about a year after the election date.

• Creates a $20,000 homestead exemption from City of Statham municipal property taxes for residents 62 or older, reducing the taxable value of their home.
• Adds a further $10,000 exemption for residents 67 or older, stacked on top of the $20,000 exemption, for a total of $30,000 for the oldest homeowners.
• Requires people to apply once with the city to prove age and eligibility, after which the exemption renews automatically each year without reapplying.
• Limits the exemptions to city ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes only, leaving state, county, and school property taxes unaffected.
• Requires a November 2026 referendum in Statham; the exemptions only take effect if a majority of voters approve, starting with the 2027 tax year.
• Sets automatic repeal of the entire Act 365 days after the election if voters reject it or if the election is not properly held.

Homeowners in the City of Statham who are 62 or older, and especially those 67 or older who qualify for the larger combined exemption. It also affects the Statham municipal government, which administers applications and funds the referendum, and the city's tax base overall.

If approved by voters, older homeowners in Statham would pay city property taxes on a smaller portion of their home's value, lowering their tax bills. The change only affects city taxes, so county and school tax bills would stay the same, and the whole plan depends on the outcome of a local vote.

• Section 1 defines 'ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes' to exclude taxes used to pay off municipal bonded debt, and defines 'homestead' using the standard state law definition (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-40).
• Section 1(b)(1) grants a $20,000 exemption to Statham residents 62 or older based on their age as of January 1 of the application year.
• Section 1(b)(2) grants an additional $10,000 exemption to residents 67 or older, on top of the $20,000 exemption.
• Section 1(c) and (d) require a one-time application with the city, after which the exemption renews automatically unless the person becomes ineligible.
• Section 1(f) sets the exemptions to apply starting with tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
• Section 2 requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the General Assembly, as mandated by the Georgia Constitution for this type of local tax law.
• Section 3 requires a November 2026 referendum in Statham, with the Act taking effect only if a majority of voters approve; otherwise the Act automatically repeals 365 days after the election.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 682
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)Primary sponsor
• Holt Persinger (R, HD-119)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (20 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #772

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927

• property taxes
• homestead exemption
• City of Statham
• senior citizens
• local referendum