Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR659 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25 LC 62 0207S
2		-	The House Committee on Insurance offers the following substitute to HR 659:
	1	+	25 LC 52 0839
	2	+	House Resolution 659
	3	+	By: Representatives Lumsden of the 12
	4	+	th
	5	+	and Burns of the 159
	6	+	th
	7	+
3	8		A RESOLUTION
4		-	Creating the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform; and for other purposes.1
	9	+	Creating the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform; and for other purposes.
	10	+	1
5	11		WHEREAS, the insurance market plays a crucial role in providing individuals and2
6	12		businesses with financial protection against unforeseen risks and losses; and3
7	13		WHEREAS, premiums across multiple lines of insurance have been steadily increasing,4
8	14		placing an excessive and unsustainable burden on policyholders and businesses across this5
9	15		state; and6
10	16		WHEREAS, these increasing costs have resulted in financial hardship for consumers,7
11	17		reducing access to essential coverage and undermining the affordability of necessary8
12	18		protections; and9
13	19		WHEREAS, insurance companies continue to report record profits, raising concerns about10
14	20		the fairness and transparency of pricing models and the industry's accountability to11
15	21		policyholders; and12
16		-	H. R. 659 (SUB)
17		-	- 1 - 25 LC 62 0207S
18		-	WHEREAS, excessive premium increases coupled with reduced coverage options create a13
	22	+	H. R. 659
	23	+	- 1 - 25 LC 52 0839
	24	+	WHEREAS, excessive premium increases coupled with reduced coverage options create a
	25	+	13
19	26		destabilized market that disproportionately harms low-income and middle-income families,14
20	27		small businesses, and seniors on fixed incomes; and15
21	28		WHEREAS, the lack of competition in the insurance industry allows dominant providers to16
22	29		impose unreasonable cost increases with little recourse for consumers, making regulatory17
23	30		scrutiny a necessity; and18
24	31		WHEREAS, it is imperative to conduct a thorough examination of the insurance industry's19
25	32		rate-setting practices, profit margins, claims processing, and regulatory compliance to ensure20
26	33		that consumers are not being subjected to unjustified rate hikes; and21
27	34		WHEREAS, understanding the impact of national and state insurance regulations, as well as22
28	35		examining successful models from other states, will enable the General Assembly to enact23
29	36		meaningful reforms to protect consumers from predatory pricing and ensure that the24
30	37		insurance market operates fairly and transparently.25
31	38		NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:26
32	39		(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee27
33	40		on Insurance Market Reform.28
34		-	(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of ~~eight~~ members of the29
	41	+	(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of seven members of the29
35	42		House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of30
36		-	Representatives. The Speaker shall also appoint ~~three~~ additional nonlegislative members31
	43	+	Representatives. The Speaker shall also appoint four additional nonlegislative members31
37	44		with expertise or qualifications as determined by the Speaker. The Speaker shall32
38	45		designate two legislative members to serve as chairperson and vice chairperson of the33
39	46		committee.34
40		-	H. R. 659 (SUB)
41		-	- 2 - 25 LC 62 0207S
42		-	(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,35
	47	+	H. R. 659
	48	+	- 2 - 25 LC 52 0839
	49	+	(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,
	50	+	35
43	51		issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or36
44	52		legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.37
45	53		(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee38
46	54		may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or39
47	55		convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and40
48	56		accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.41
49		-	(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.42
50		-	(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided43
51		-	for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances44
52		-	authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for45
53		-	more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out46
54		-	the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of47
55		-	Representatives.48
56		-	(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,49
57		-	or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,50
58		-	but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their51
59		-	duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for52
60		-	expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.53
61		-	(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state54
62		-	employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that55
63		-	specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia56
64		-	Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state57
65		-	employees.58
66		-	(6) Report.59
67		-	(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that60
68		-	include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the61
69		-	H. R. 659 (SUB)
70		-	- 3 - 25 LC 62 0207S
71		-	same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to62
72		-	subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.63
73		-	(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for64
74		-	proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)65
75		-	of this paragraph.66
76		-	(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of67
77		-	abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.68
78		-	A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with69
79		-	the Clerk of the House of Representatives.70
80		-	(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the71
81		-	House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu72
82		-	thereof.73
83		-	(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.74
84		-	H. R. 659 (SUB)
	57	+	(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive42
	58	+	the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia43
	59	+	Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any44
	60	+	member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.45
	61	+	Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds46
	62	+	appropriated to the House of Representatives.47
	63	+	(6) Report.48
	64	+	(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that49
	65	+	include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the50
	66	+	same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to51
	67	+	subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.52
	68	+	(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for53
	69	+	proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)54
	70	+	of this paragraph.55
	71	+	(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of56
	72	+	abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.57
	73	+	A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with58
	74	+	the Clerk of the House of Representatives.59
	75	+	H. R. 659
	76	+	- 3 - 25 LC 52 0839
	77	+	(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the
	78	+	60
	79	+	House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu61
	80	+	thereof.62
	81	+	(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.63
	82	+	H. R. 659
85	83		- 4 -