HB408: HB408 Insurance; repeal prelicensing education requirements applicable to certain licenses

Georgia law currently requires people applying for an insurance agent's, limited subagent's, or adjuster's license to complete classroom courses in insurance approved by the state Insurance Commissioner before they can be licensed. House Bill 408 would repeal that requirement by striking the classroom education mandate from O.C.G.A. § 33-23-5 and marking that part of the law 'Reserved,' meaning it is removed but the numbering stays in place. The bill also changes the rules for retaking a licensing exam after failing it. Currently the Commissioner sets a waiting period by rule; the bill would cap that wait at three days from the date of the failed exam. A related conforming change to the temporary license law (O.C.G.A. § 33-23-13) removes the reference to education requirements for people stepping in temporarily to run an insurance agency after an agent dies or becomes unable to work.

• Repeals the requirement that agent, limited subagent, and adjuster license applicants complete Commissioner-approved classroom insurance courses before licensing.
• Sets a maximum three-day waiting period before an applicant who failed a licensing exam can retake it, instead of leaving the wait period undefined by rule.
• Removes the reference to 'education' requirements from the temporary license statute so temporary agents and subagents are not held to a prelicensing education standard that no longer exists.
• Keeps in place other existing exemptions, such as skipping prelicensing education for agents already licensed for the same lines of authority in another state.

People applying for Georgia insurance agent, limited subagent, or adjuster licenses; insurance schools and course providers previously approved by the Commissioner; the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office, which administers licensing exams; and temporary agents who step in to run an agency after an agent's death, illness, or military service.

New applicants for these insurance licenses would no longer have to pay for and complete classroom coursework before taking their licensing exam, potentially speeding up and cheapening entry into insurance sales and adjusting work in Georgia, while those who fail the exam could retry sooner under the new three-day cap.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 33-23-5 by striking paragraph (6), which required classroom insurance courses approved by the Commissioner for agent, limited subagent, and adjuster licenses, and marks it 'Reserved.'
• Section 1 retains the existing exemption in paragraph (4) letting agents already licensed in another state skip prelicensing education and exams under certain conditions.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 33-23-10 to cap the reexamination waiting period at three days from the date of a failed licensing exam.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 33-23-13 to remove the word 'education' from the list of requirements temporary agents and limited subagents are excused from meeting.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-18House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-13House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-12House Hopper (House)

• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)Primary sponsor
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)

• insurance licensing
• professional education requirements
• insurance agents
• occupational licensing reform