HB 477: Insurance; prohibit insurers from raising private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates more often that once every calendar year

Georgia currently regulates when insurance rates count as 'excessive' under the state's insurance code (O.C.G.A. § 33-9-4), but it does not limit how often an insurer can raise rates on a private passenger car insurance policy. This bill adds a new limit: no insurer in Georgia could raise rates on a private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy more than once every calendar year. The change is made by amending part of Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which covers how insurance rates and underwriting rules are regulated. If enacted, the law would take effect on January 1, 2026, and would apply to all private passenger auto insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Georgia on or after that date.

• Adds a new rule to Georgia's insurance rate law (O.C.G.A. § 33-9-4) capping rate increases on private passenger motor vehicle insurance to once per calendar year.
• Keeps the existing standard that a rate is not 'excessive' unless it is unreasonably high and lacks reasonable competition, without changing that test.
• Sets the new rule to take effect January 1, 2026.
• Applies the new limit to all private passenger auto policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Georgia on or after the effective date.

Georgia drivers who hold private passenger motor vehicle insurance policies, and the insurance companies that sell and price those policies in the state. The Georgia insurance regulatory framework under Title 33 is also directly involved since the bill amends its rate rules.

If passed, Georgia drivers would be protected from having their car insurance premiums increased more than once a year, giving households more predictability in budgeting for insurance costs. Insurers would need to adjust how frequently they file and implement rate changes for private passenger auto policies in Georgia.

• Section 1 amends paragraph (2) of O.C.G.A. § 33-9-4 to add a new restriction limiting private passenger motor vehicle insurance rate increases to once per calendar year.
• Section 1 leaves in place the existing legal standard that a rate is excessive only if it is unreasonably high and lacks reasonable competition.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as January 1, 2026 and applies the law to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after that date.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)Primary sponsor
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)
• Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
• Dar'shun Kendrick (D, HD-095)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)

• car insurance rates
• auto insurance regulation
• insurance law
• consumer protection