---
title: SB 192. "Georgia Health Insurance Affordability and Consumer Protection Act"; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb192
cite_as: SB 192, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb192
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb192.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb192/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70409
date: 2025-02-19
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: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb192.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 192
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-18
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Jason Esteves
- Sonya Halpern
- Harold Jones
- Kim Jackson
- Elena Parent
- Nan Orrock
- Tonya Anderson
- Sally Harrell
- RaShaun Kemp
- Gail Davenport
- Josh McLaurin
- Michael Rhett
- Nikki Merritt
- Kenya Wicks
- Randal Mangham
- Donzella James
- Sheikh Rahman
- Freddie Sims
- Nabilah Islam Parkes
- David Lucas
- Ed Harbison
- Emanuel Jones
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB192/2025
upstream_id: 1974364
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- health insurance
- Affordable Care Act
- premium subsidies
- Georgia Access
- Department of Insurance
---
# SB 192. "Georgia Health Insurance Affordability and Consumer Protection Act"; enact
## Text
Senate Bill 192
By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Halpern of the 39th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the
41st, Parent of the 44th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
insurance generally, so as to require the Department of Insurance to implement a certain
insurance affordability program in response to the pending expiration of certain Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act tax credits; to provide for definitions; to provide for
automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for
legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Health Insurance Affordability
and Consumer Protection Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) The enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) under the federal Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act, also known as the "ACA," have significantly increased the
affordability of health insurance for low- and middle-income Georgians, reducing the
state's uninsured rate;
(2) Without Congressional action, the ePTCs will expire on December 31, 2025, and
thousands of Georgians, particularly those earning under 250 percent of the federal
poverty level, will experience drastic premium increases, making health insurance
unaffordable and increasing the number of uninsured individuals;
(3) The expiration of these tax credits would disproportionately harm rural communities,
small business owners, gig workers, and historically marginalized populations;
(4) Several states, including New Mexico, Colorado, and Washington, have implemented
state based affordability programs to provide premium and cost-sharing assistance to
mitigate rising health insurance costs;
(5) Georgia must act swiftly to prevent gaps in affordability and ensure continued access
to affordable health insurance for its residents; and
(6) The purpose of this Act is to direct the Georgia Department of Insurance to establish
a program within statutory requirements established by law to lessen the impact of the
ePTCs' expiration, ensuring Georgians continue to have access to affordable, high quality
health coverage in 2026.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance
generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"33-24-59.34.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Affordability program' means the program administered by the department to reduce
the cost of health insurance for Georgians through premium assistance, cost-sharing
reductions, reinsurance, or other financial mechanisms.
(2) 'Cost-sharing reductions' means state or federal subsidies that lower out-of-pocket
costs, such as deductibles and copayments, for eligible individuals.
(3) 'Federal poverty level' means the income thresholds updated annually by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services.
(4) 'Georgia Access' means the state based health insurance marketplace established
under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
(5) 'Qualified health plan' or 'plan' means a health insurance plan certified to be offered
through Georgia Access.
(b) The department shall develop an affordability program by September 30, 2025, which
shall include:
(1) State premium subsidies to replace or supplement federal premium tax credits for
enrollees earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level;
(2) Other cost-sharing reductions for individuals earning below 250 percent of the
federal poverty level which may include lower deductibles, copays, and other
out-of-pocket expenses; and
(3) A state funded plan for individuals earning below 200 percent of the federal poverty
level that does not require the payment of any premiums.
(c) The department shall convene a stakeholder working group by July 1, 2025, consisting
of consumer advocates, health insurers, healthcare providers, and employers to develop a
consumer centered approach to the affordability program.
(d) The department shall submit the stakeholder working group's plan for the affordability
program to the Governor and General Assembly by September 30, 2025. Such submission
shall include recommendations for additional ways to reduce the cost of health insurance.
(e) The department shall promugate rules and regulations for implementation of the
affordability program by December 1, 2025.
(f) The department, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Budget, shall conduct
a fiscal impact analysis by August 1, 2025, and identify sustainable funding mechanisms
for the affordability program, including appropriations by the General Assembly and
charges on health insurers offering plans on Georgia Access. The results of such analysis
shall be contained in a report, along with the financial structure and projected impact of the
affordability program, which shall be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly by
September 1, 2025.
(g) Beginning on January 1, 2027, the department shall provide annual reports to the
General Assembly detailing:
(1) The number of Georgians receiving assistance through the affordability program;
(2) The impact of the affordability program, enrollment rates, and health outcomes; and
(3) Any recommended changes or expansions to such program.
(h) The department shall implement consumer education and outreach initiatives to ensure
eligible Georgians are aware of and can access the affordability program.
(i) The department shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation in 2029 to assess the
program's impact and determine the need for continuation or adjustments. The results of
such evaluation shall be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly in a report by
January 1, 2030.
(j) The affordability program shall only become effective on January 1, 2026, in the event
that the United States Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits under the federal
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to expire on December 31, 2025. In the event
that the affordability program does not become effective, none of the reports required in
this Code section shall be applicable.
(k) This Code section shall stand repealed on December 31, 2030."
SECTION 4.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 5.
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.
A Georgia Senate bill would direct the Department of Insurance to build a state health insurance affordability program that would kick in only if federal ACA premium tax credits expire at the end of 2025.
### Plain-language summary
This bill responds to the possible expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to lapse December 31, 2025 unless Congress acts. It creates a new section of Georgia insurance law (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.34) directing the Department of Insurance to design a state affordability program offering premium subsidies, cost-sharing reductions, and a no-premium plan for lower-income residents who buy coverage through Georgia Access, the state's ACA marketplace.
The department would have to convene a stakeholder working group, complete a fiscal impact analysis, write rules, and report plans to the Governor and General Assembly on a series of 2025 deadlines. The program would only take effect January 1, 2026 if Congress actually lets the federal tax credits expire; otherwise it stays dormant. The whole Code section automatically repeals on December 31, 2030. The bill would take effect immediately once signed.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia law requiring the Department of Insurance to design a state health insurance affordability program with premium subsidies, cost-sharing help, and a free plan for the lowest earners.
- Makes the program's activation conditional: it only takes effect January 1, 2026 if Congress allows the federal enhanced premium tax credits to expire on December 31, 2025.
- Requires the department to convene a stakeholder working group by July 1, 2025 and submit a program plan to the Governor and General Assembly by September 30, 2025.
- Requires a fiscal impact analysis and funding recommendations, including possible charges on insurers selling plans on Georgia Access, due by September 1, 2025.
- Sets ongoing annual reporting starting January 1, 2027 and a full program evaluation in 2029, with the entire Code section automatically repealing December 31, 2030.
### Who it affects
Low- and middle-income Georgians who buy coverage through Georgia Access, especially those earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level; the Department of Insurance, which must build and administer the program; health insurers offering marketplace plans; and consumer advocates, providers, and employers invited to a required stakeholder working group.
### Why it matters
If federal premium tax credits expire, many Georgians buying ACA marketplace coverage could see sharp premium increases. This bill would set up a state backstop, subsidies, reduced cost-sharing, and a free plan for the poorest enrollees, but only if that federal expiration actually happens, and the whole program would sunset by the end of 2030.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 names the bill the 'Georgia Health Insurance Affordability and Consumer Protection Act.'
- Section 2 lays out legislative findings about the expiring federal tax credits and cites other states with similar affordability programs.
- Section 3 adds O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.34, defining key terms like 'affordability program,' 'cost-sharing reductions,' and 'qualified health plan.'
- Subsection (b) requires the department to build the program by September 30, 2025, including subsidies for those up to 400% of poverty, cost-sharing help under 250%, and a premium-free plan under 200%.
- Subsection (c) requires a stakeholder working group by July 1, 2025; subsection (e) requires implementing rules by December 1, 2025.
- Subsection (f) requires a fiscal impact analysis with the Office of Planning and Budget by August 1, 2025, exploring funding options including insurer charges.
- Subsection (j) makes the entire program's effectiveness contingent on Congress letting the federal enhanced premium tax credits expire on December 31, 2025.
- Subsection (k) automatically repeals the whole Code section on December 31, 2030.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-18)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-02-19)
- Sponsors: Jason Esteves, Sonya Halpern, Harold Jones, Kim Jackson, Elena Parent, Nan Orrock, Tonya Anderson, Sally Harrell, RaShaun Kemp, Gail Davenport, Josh McLaurin, Michael Rhett, Nikki Merritt, Kenya Wicks, Randal Mangham, Donzella James, Sheikh Rahman, Freddie Sims, Nabilah Islam Parkes, David Lucas, Ed Harbison, Emanuel Jones
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70409
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb192.md?full=1