Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 574: Labor and industrial relations; applicability of workers' compensation to employers and employees; provisions
Last action March 3, 2026 · House Withdrawn, Recommitted
A Georgia House bill would exempt employers already covered by the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act from having to also carry Georgia workers' compensation coverage for those same employees.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia's workers' compensation law (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-2) currently sets out which employers and employees the state's workers' compensation system covers. This bill adds a new exception: if an employer is already covered by and providing coverage under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, a federal law that covers maritime and dockside workers injured on navigable waters or in adjoining areas like piers and docks, then Georgia's workers' compensation chapter would no longer apply to that employer's employees. The bill is short, consisting of one substantive section adding this new subsection (g) to the existing code section, plus a standard clause repealing any conflicting laws. It does not change any other part of Georgia's workers' compensation system, and it does not set a specific effective date beyond the standard process for bills that become law.
What the bill does
- Adds a new subsection to Georgia's workers' compensation law (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-2) creating an exemption for certain employers.
- Exempts employees of an employer already covered by the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act from Georgia's workers' compensation chapter.
- Applies specifically to employers providing coverage under that federal law, 33 U.S.C. Section 901 and its extensions.
- Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new exemption.
Who it affects
This bill affects employers in maritime, dock, and harbor-related industries who already carry federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act coverage, and their employees, who would lose access to Georgia's state workers' compensation system for injuries but would remain covered under the federal system instead.
Why it matters
For workers at covered maritime or harbor employers, injury claims would go through the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act system rather than Georgia's state system, changing which rules, benefits, and procedures apply. Employers covered federally would no longer need to also maintain Georgia workers' compensation coverage for those employees.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 34-9-2 by adding new subsection (g), which states that Georgia's workers' compensation chapter does not apply to employees of an employer covered by and providing coverage under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
- Section 1 specifically cites 33 U.S.C. Section 901, et seq., including its extensions, as the federal law that triggers the state exemption.
- Section 2 repeals any Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this change.
From the bill
“This chapter shall not apply to employees of an employer covered by and providing coverage under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 901, et seq., as amended, and its extensions.”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Industry and Labor Committee, February 4, 2026
From 0:12:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair explained that HB 574 would replace overlapping state and federal maritime workers’ compensation coverage with federal coverage alone, reducing employers’ insurance burden. The chair said workers do not receive duplicate payments and the advisory council took a neutral position. A witness for International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1414 opposed the bill, citing a 16-month federal hearing wait and estimating 66,000 affected workers. An injured overseas worker described repeated benefit suspensions and financial hardship. Two worker-side attorneys warned of years-long federal delays. One described using Georgia’s process to restore a client’s benefits and surgery; another cited over 12,000 pending federal cases and 34 judges. An advisory subcommittee participant requested further study of costs and affected workers. Gateway Terminals’ representatives supported the bill. Its attorney estimated 5,000 to 10,000 affected workers, said 90% to 95% of claims are accepted, and argued lower premiums would support jobs and port growth. The attorney acknowledged disputed cases can take years and said liability for workers’ attorney fees discourages nonpayment. Members questioned those delays, potential savings, attorney compensation and lawsuit protections. Attorneys on both sides said federal coverage generally preserves employers’ protection from negligence suits. The chair rejected calls for further compromise talks. A motion to table failed, with four supporting votes recorded. The committee approved a do-pass motion without announcing the final count.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:18:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1696
Summary by Georgia Commons: A member objected to placing HB 574 on Tuesday’s calendar under modified rules. The chair called a voice vote, with both ayes and noes heard, and announced that the ayes carried. No vote count or reasons for the objection were given, and the bill’s contents were not discussed.
House floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26, PM)
From 5:05:21 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Withdrawn, Recommitted)
Summary by Georgia Commons: A member moved to return HB 574 to the Rules Committee. After the clerk read the caption concerning workers' compensation coverage, the House agreed without objection. There was no substantive debate.
Status timeline
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
- Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
- Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
- Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
- Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)
Topics
- workers' compensation
- maritime and dock workers
- labor law
- employer coverage requirements