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Statham City Council holds public hearing on HB581; resident urges opt-out and senior exemption
Summary
City staff outlined potential impacts of HB581 at a Feb. 4 public hearing; a resident urged the council to opt out and add a senior-citizen exemption. Council asked questions but recorded no vote on opting out.
Statham City officials and staff held a public hearing on state House Bill 581 on Feb. 4, 2025, during which City Attorney Jody Campbell and City Accountant Rachel Bembry explained how the legislation could affect Statham City and responded to council members’ questions. Councilmember Patterson moved to open the hearing at 6:41 p.m.; the motion passed 5-0.
During the presentation, Campbell and Bembry outlined the likely impacts of HB581 on the city’s operations and finances and took clarifying questions from council members about how a council vote would affect the municipality. The minutes record questions but do not include verbatim testimony from the staff presentations.
Elanie Wright spoke during the public hearing in favor of Statham opting out of HB581 and suggested the city add an additional exemption for senior citizens. The minutes record her position and the suggested senior exemption but do not indicate that council members committed to a specific vote or amendment on the bill.
The council closed the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. by a recorded 5-0 vote. The minutes do not record any subsequent formal vote by the council to opt out of HB581 or to adopt the proposed senior exemption. The matter remains a subject for potential future action by the council.
