---
title: SB 379. "Georgia Health Insurance Affordability and Consumer Protection Act"; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb379
cite_as: SB 379, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb379
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb379.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb379/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72150
date: 2026-01-13
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
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bill_number: SB 379
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-12
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Josh McLaurin
- Nabilah Islam Parkes
- Harold Jones
- Kim Jackson
- Elena Parent
- Sonya Halpern
- Nan Orrock
- Nikki Merritt
- Randal Mangham
- RaShaun Kemp
- Sheikh Rahman
- Donzella James
- Sally Harrell
- Kenya Wicks
- Gail Davenport
- Jaha Howard
- Ed Harbison
- Freddie Sims
- Derek Mallow
- Tonya Anderson
- David Lucas
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB379/2025
upstream_id: 2071972
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- health insurance
- Affordable Care Act
- premium subsidies
- Georgia Access
- insurance affordability
---
# SB 379. "Georgia Health Insurance Affordability and Consumer Protection Act"; enact
## Text
Senate Bill 379
By: Senators McLaurin of the 14th, Parkes of the 7th, 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 recent 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," significantly increased the affordability
of health insurance for low- and middle-income Georgians, reducing the state's uninsured
rate;
(2) Due to Congressional inaction, the ePTCs expired on December 31, 2025, and
thousands of Georgians, particularly those earning under 250 percent of the federal poverty
level, are experiencing drastic premium increases, making health insurance unaffordable
and increasing the number of uninsured individuals;
(3) The expiration of these tax credits has disproportionately harmed 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 a more extensive gap in affordability and ensure
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.
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:
"33-24-59.37.
(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) 'Plan' means a health insurance plan certified to be offered through Georgia Access.
(b) The department shall develop an affordability program by September 30, 2026, 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, copayments, 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 August 1, 2026,
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, 2026. Such submission
shall include recommendations for additional ways to reduce the cost of health insurance.
(e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for implementation of the
affordability program by December 1, 2026.
(f) The department, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Budget, shall conduct
a fiscal impact analysis by August 1, 2026, 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, 2026.
(g) Beginning on January 1, 2028, 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 2030 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, 2031.
(j) The affordability program shall only become effective on January 1, 2027, in the event
that the Congress and President of the United States have failed to reestablish the enhanced
premium tax credits as they existed under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act but expired 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, 2031."
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 create a state health insurance affordability program with premium subsidies and cost-sharing help, responding to the expiration of federal ACA enhanced tax credits.
### Plain-language summary
Enhanced federal premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act expired on December 31, 2025, raising health insurance costs for many Georgians, especially those earning under 250 percent of the federal poverty level. This bill would require the Georgia Department of Insurance to build a new state affordability program to soften that impact.
The program would offer state premium subsidies for people earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, extra cost-sharing help for those under 250 percent, and a no-premium state funded plan for those under 200 percent. The department must convene a stakeholder group, study funding options, and submit plans to the Governor and General Assembly through 2026. The program only takes effect January 1, 2027, if Congress has not restored the federal tax credits by then, and the whole Code section automatically repeals on December 31, 2031.
### What it does
- Requires the Department of Insurance to build an affordability program by September 30, 2026, offering state premium subsidies, cost-sharing reductions, and a no-premium plan for lower earners.
- Sets income tiers: subsidies for people up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, added cost-sharing help below 250 percent, and a free state funded plan below 200 percent.
- Requires a stakeholder working group of consumer advocates, insurers, providers, and employers be convened by August 1, 2026 to shape the program.
- Requires a fiscal impact analysis and funding recommendations, including possible charges on insurers selling plans on Georgia Access, submitted by September 1, 2026.
- Makes the program effective only if Congress and the President fail to restore the expired enhanced premium tax credits by January 1, 2027.
- Automatically repeals the entire new Code section on December 31, 2031.
### Who it affects
Low- and middle-income Georgians who buy insurance through Georgia Access, especially those under 250 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level; rural residents, small business owners, and gig workers; health insurers operating on the marketplace; and the Department of Insurance and Office of Planning and Budget, which must build and fund the program.
### Why it matters
If the enhanced federal tax credits are not restored, many Georgians buying their own insurance would face state-run alternatives to soften premium increases, including free plans for the lowest earners. Insurers could face new charges to help fund the program, and full rollout depends on federal inaction continuing.
### Key provisions
- Section 2 states legislative findings that expiring federal enhanced premium tax credits are raising costs, especially for those under 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
- Section 3 adds new Code section 33-24-59.37, defining terms like 'affordability program,' 'cost-sharing reductions,' and 'Georgia Access.'
- Subsection (b) requires the department to develop the program by September 30, 2026, with three income-based tiers of assistance.
- Subsection (c) requires a stakeholder working group by August 1, 2026; subsection (d) requires the group's plan be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly by September 30, 2026.
- Subsection (f) requires a fiscal impact analysis and funding mechanisms report, including possible insurer charges, by September 1, 2026.
- Subsection (g) requires annual reports to the General Assembly starting January 1, 2028 on enrollment and outcomes.
- Subsection (j) makes the program effective January 1, 2027 only if Congress has not restored the federal enhanced tax credits by then.
- Subsection (k) repeals the Code section on December 31, 2031.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-12)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-01-13)
- Sponsors: Josh McLaurin, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Harold Jones, Kim Jackson, Elena Parent, Sonya Halpern, Nan Orrock, Nikki Merritt, Randal Mangham, RaShaun Kemp, Sheikh Rahman, Donzella James, Sally Harrell, Kenya Wicks, Gail Davenport, Jaha Howard, Ed Harbison, Freddie Sims, Derek Mallow, Tonya Anderson, David Lucas
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72150
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb379.md?full=1