Georgia House bill by Rep. Clark on Lilburn homestead tax exemptions passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Jasmine Clark aims to amend Lilburn homestead tax exemptions, including raising exemptions for residents age 65 or older, after approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, March 28, clearing the House by a vote of 170-0 and the Senate by a vote of 53-0.

The bill, introduced as HB761 on Tuesday, March 11 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Lilburn, City of; ad valorem tax; provide additional 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 proposes amendments to the existing homestead exemptions from City of Lilburn ad valorem taxes. It aims to provide an additional exemption in cases where the current year’s assessed homestead value surpasses the previous year’s by more than 8%. The bill also seeks to increase the homestead tax exemption for residents aged 65 or older from $10,000 to $50,000 of the assessed value, limiting the exemption to one acre of property. These changes will be subject to voter approval in a municipal election scheduled for the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November 2025, and if approved, would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The bill includes provisions for automatic repeal if the election is not conducted as specified.

In the House, 74 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 21 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Marvin Lim (Democrat-98th) and Rep. Dewey McClain (Democrat-109th).

Clark graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2005.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 108th House District, replacing previous state representative Clay Cox.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 13.

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.