Georgia House bill by Rep. Washburn granting $40,000 homestead exemption for Jasper County seniors passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Dale Washburn seeks to provide a $40,000 homestead exemption from Jasper County school district ad valorem taxes for residents aged 65 or older, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, April 4, clearing the House by a vote of 165-0 and the Senate by a vote of 51-1.

The bill, introduced as HB820 on Friday, March 21 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Jasper County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill provides a homestead exemption from Jasper County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, amounting to $40,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents aged 65 or older. It specifies the exemption terms, including application procedures and automatic annual renewal, provided the homeowner continues to occupy the residence. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2026, and will be enacted only if approved by voters in a special election scheduled for November 2025. The bill outlines electoral procedures and conditions for automatic repeal if the election is not conducted as required. The exemption is supplementary to existing exemptions, except where specified otherwise, and does not apply to state, county, municipal, or independent school district taxes. The bill’s provisions become effective upon the Governor’s approval or automatically if left unsigned. Conflicting laws are repealed.

In the House, 69 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 20 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor, while one Republican voted against it.

Washburn, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 144th House District, replacing previous state representative Danny Mathis.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday, May 14.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.