HR659: HR659 House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform; create

This resolution creates the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform, a temporary panel of the Georgia House of Representatives. The resolution's preamble describes rising insurance premiums, reduced coverage options, and record industry profits as reasons to examine how insurance rates are set and whether consumers are being treated fairly. The committee would have eight House members plus three nonlegislative members with relevant expertise, all appointed by the Speaker of the House, who also names a chairperson and vice chairperson. The committee can hold meetings as needed, and legislative members receive standard legislative allowances while nonlegislative members get expense reimbursement. If the committee approves findings or recommendations, including possible legislation, the chairperson must file a report with the Clerk of the House. The committee is set to be abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform within the Georgia House of Representatives.
• Sets committee membership at eight House members and three nonlegislative experts, all appointed by the Speaker of the House.
• Directs the committee to study insurance rate-setting, profit margins, claims processing, and regulatory compliance and recommend legislation if warranted.
• Provides legislative members standard travel and per diem allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 and gives nonlegislative members expense reimbursement.
• Requires a report to be filed with the Clerk of the House if the committee approves findings before it is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2025.

This resolution directly affects members of the Georgia House of Representatives appointed to the committee, nonlegislative experts chosen by the Speaker, and indirectly the insurance industry, policyholders, and businesses whose rates and coverage the committee would study.

The resolution itself does not change any insurance law or rate; it only sets up a temporary group to study premium increases, industry profits, and regulation. Any real changes to insurance rules would depend on legislation the committee might recommend after its study concludes.

• Paragraph 1 creates the House Study Committee on Insurance Market Reform.
• Paragraph 2 sets membership at eight House members and three nonlegislative members, with the Speaker appointing all members and naming a chairperson and vice chairperson.
• Paragraph 3 directs the committee to study insurance industry issues raised in the preamble and recommend action or legislation as it sees fit.
• Paragraph 5 details allowances: legislative members get standard legislative per diem under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days unless extended, funded by House appropriations; nonlegislative state employees get expense reimbursement; other nonlegislative members get a daily allowance matching O.C.G.A. § 45-7-21(b).
• Paragraph 6 requires any approved findings or recommendations, including proposed legislation, to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph 7 abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-27House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-25House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-20House Hopper (House)

• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)

• insurance rates
• insurance regulation
• consumer protection
• study committee
• House of Representatives