HB 574: Labor and industrial relations; applicability of workers' compensation to employers and employees; provisions

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-03House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2026-02-05House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-24House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-21House Hopper (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• 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)

• workers' compensation
• maritime and dock workers
• labor law
• employer coverage requirements