---
title: HB 477. Insurance; prohibit insurers from raising private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates more often that once every calendar year
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb477
cite_as: HB 477, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb477
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb477.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb477/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70394
date: 2025-02-20
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb477.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 477
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-18
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Debra Bazemore
- Carl Gilliard
- Omari Crawford
- Karen Bennett
- Dar'shun Kendrick
- Spencer Frye
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB477/2025
upstream_id: 1974133
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- car insurance rates
- auto insurance regulation
- insurance law
- consumer protection
---
# HB 477. Insurance; prohibit insurers from raising private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates more often that once every calendar year
## Text
House Bill 477
By: Representatives Bazemore of the 69th, Gilliard of the 162nd, Crawford of the 89th, Bennett
of the 94th, Kendrick of the 95th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
regulation of rates, underwriting rules, and related organizations, so as to prohibit insurers
from raising private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates more often than once every
calendar year; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to provide for
applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of
rates, underwriting rules, and related organizations, is amended by revising paragraph (2) of
Code Section 33-9-4, relating to standards applicable to making and use of rates, as follows:
"(2) No rate shall be held to be excessive unless such rate is unreasonably high for the
insurance provided and a reasonable degree of competition does not exist in the area with
respect to the classification to which such rate is applicable; provided, however, that, with
respect to rate filings involving an increase in rates, no rate for personal private passenger
motor vehicle insurance shall be held to be excessive unless such rate is unreasonably
high for the insurance provided and a reasonable degree of competition does not exist.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no insurer in this state shall raise
rates on a private passenger motor vehicle insurance policy more often than once every
calendar year;"
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026, and shall apply to all policies issued,
delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after such date.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 477 would stop car insurance companies in Georgia from raising rates on private passenger auto insurance policies more than once per calendar year, starting January 1, 2026.
### Plain-language summary
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.
### What it does
- 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.
### Who it affects
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.
### Why it matters
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.
### Key provisions
- 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-18)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-20)
- Sponsors: Debra Bazemore, Carl Gilliard, Omari Crawford, Karen Bennett, Dar'shun Kendrick, Spencer Frye
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70394
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb477.md?full=1