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County staff brief commissioners on key bills and homestead-exemption changes as legislative session winds down
Summary
Fulton County external-affairs staff updated the board on the state legislative session’s final days, funding risks for a behavioral-health crisis center and a signed homestead-exemption cleanup bill with implementation questions for the tax office.
County external-affairs staff provided a state legislative update at the April 2 meeting, covering the final hours of the 2025 session, budget negotiations, bill progress and signed changes to property tax and homestead-exemption rules.
Highlights from the staff presentation included: the Senate and House were in conference on the state budget; the North Fulton Behavioral Health Crisis Center saw a proposed reduction in Senate appropriations from $9.4 million in the House to $2.4 million in the Senate, and county staff said they were watching advocacy on that line item. Staff reported a successful local bill (House Bill 625) creating two additional state court judgeships that has completed the legislative process and is expected to take effect in July unless vetoed.
House Bill "581 cleanup" (referenced as House Bill 92 in the update) was reported as signed by the governor, a package that includes administrative changes to homestead exemptions. County staff noted implementation questions for tax-assessor and tax-commissioner systems, including a new window allowing a homestead exemption application in the 45-day appeal period after notices are issued and a re-capping of homestead benefits at five acres. Commissioners requested a briefing from the tax commissioner and assessor on readiness to implement the new rules and to confirm the timing for assessment notices.
Other bills tracked include tort-reform measures awaiting the governor’s signature, digital court-reporting legislation moving through rules, and a variety of bills affecting libraries, 9-1-1 modernization, judicial resources and local development authority authorities. Staff said sine die was imminent and the governor’s veto deadline is May 14.
