HB 1419: Insurance; timely claims processing in supplemental estimates for repairs under motor vehicle liability insurance policies; provide

When a repair shop finds additional car damage after an insurance claim has already been filed, current Georgia law does not set clear deadlines for how quickly the insurer must respond to that added, or 'supplemental,' repair estimate. House Bill 1419 would add a new section to Georgia's motor vehicle accident reparations law (O.C.G.A. § 33-34-10) requiring insurers to assign an appraiser within one business day of being notified of supplemental damage, and to complete an inspection or review and give a written response within three business days (extendable by three more days for specific, disclosed unforeseen circumstances). Insurers would then have ten business days to send the repair facility and claimant a written decision spelling out which repair items are approved, denied, reduced, or altered, with reasons such as policy limits or duplication. Insurers could not pay or settle a supplemental claim without issuing that written decision. The bill also adds this new requirement to the list of practices that count as unfair claims settlement practices under O.C.G.A. § 33-6-34 when done repeatedly as a business practice, and lets the Insurance Commissioner write implementing rules, including standard forms.

• Requires insurers to assign an appraiser within one business day of being notified of supplemental vehicle damage after a claim is filed.
• Requires insurers to inspect or review the supplemental estimate and give a written response within three business days, with a limited three-day extension allowed for disclosed unforeseen circumstances.
• Requires insurers to send a full written decision within ten business days explaining which repair costs are approved, denied, reduced, or altered, and why.
• Bars insurers from issuing payment or settlement on a supplemental estimate without first providing that written decision.
• Adds failure to follow these new timelines to the list of practices that count as an unfair claims settlement practice (O.C.G.A. § 33-6-34) when done repeatedly as a business practice.
• Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to write rules and regulations, including standardized supplemental estimate and written explanation forms.

Georgia drivers filing motor vehicle insurance claims, auto body shops and repair facilities that submit supplemental damage estimates, insurance companies that write motor vehicle liability policies, appraisers who inspect vehicle damage, and the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office, which would enforce the new rules.

Repair shops often discover hidden damage only after disassembling a vehicle, and delays in insurer responses can leave cars sitting unrepaired and claimants without answers. Setting firm response deadlines and requiring written explanations could speed up repairs and give drivers and shops clearer, faster answers on what their insurance will cover.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-6-34 to add failure to meet the new supplemental claims timelines as an unfair claims settlement practice when it happens repeatedly as a business practice.
• Section 2 creates new Code Section 33-34-10, defining key terms including 'claimant,' 'repair facility,' 'supplemental damage,' and 'supplemental estimate.'
• Subsection (b) requires insurers to assign an appraiser within one business day and complete inspection or review with a written response within three business days, extendable by three days only for disclosed unforeseen circumstances.
• Subsection (c) requires a full written decision within ten business days detailing approvals, denials, reductions, and the reasons, and bars payment or settlement without that decision.
• Subsection (d) ties repeated violations to the 'Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act' (Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 33).
• Subsection (e) directs the Insurance Commissioner to adopt implementing rules, including possible standard forms.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)

• auto insurance
• car repair claims
• insurance regulation
• consumer protection
• unfair claims practices