HB 1015: Self-insurers Guaranty Trust Fund; revise certain funded levels

Georgia allows some employers to self-insure for workers' compensation instead of buying insurance. A trust fund exists to cover claims if a self-insured employer defaults, funded through assessments on participating employers. This bill amends O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386 to raise two dollar thresholds tied to the fund's balance. Annual assessments on participants stop once the fund reaches $25 million net of liabilities, up from the current $15 million. The threshold that triggers a special assessment when the fund drops too low is also raised, from $5 million to $10 million net of liabilities. The rest of the assessment formulas, including the $8,000 annual cap per participant and the 1.5 percent rate, stay the same.

• Raises the fund balance level at which regular annual assessments on participants stop, from $15 million to $25 million net of all liabilities.
• Raises the fund balance level that can trigger a special assessment on participants, from $5 million to $10 million net of all liabilities.
• Leaves unchanged the existing assessment formulas, including the $8,000 annual cap and 1.5 percent rate on medical and indemnity benefits paid.
• Repeals any conflicting laws, a standard housekeeping step to avoid legal conflicts with the new thresholds.

Employers in Georgia that are approved to self-insure for workers' compensation coverage, and the board of trustees that manages the Self-insurers Guaranty Trust Fund. Indirectly, injured workers who rely on the fund if a self-insured employer cannot pay their claims.

By raising the thresholds, the fund would need to hold more money before assessments on self-insured employers pause, and would allow it to drop further before a special assessment kicks in. This changes how much cushion the fund keeps to cover workers' compensation claims.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386(a)(1) to raise the funded level that halts regular annual assessments from $15 million to $25 million net of all liabilities.
• Section 1 amends paragraph (4) to raise the fund balance threshold triggering a possible special assessment from $5 million to $10 million net of all liabilities.
• The bill leaves intact the $8,000 first-year assessment, the 1.5 percent or $2,000 minimum annual assessment formula, and the $8,000 annual assessment cap per participant.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with the changes made by the Act.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 386
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)Primary sponsor
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 10, 2026

   163 yea, 3 nay (1 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #495

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   46 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #897

• workers' compensation
• self-insurance
• state trust funds
• insurance regulation