SB 409: "Insurers' Use of Aerial or Satellite Images Act"; enact

Insurance companies increasingly use aerial and satellite photos to spot roof damage, overgrown vegetation, or other conditions when deciding whether to insure a home. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code, O.C.G.A. § 33-9-45, that limits how insurers can use those images against homeowners. If an insurer uses aerial or satellite images to deny, cancel, not renew, reduce coverage on, or raise the price of a homeowner's residential property policy, it must give the homeowner date-stamped copies of the images (taken within nine months), explain exactly what condition is out of compliance, and describe the repair standards needed to fix it. The insurer must set up a contact point and an appeals process, and must give the homeowner at least 60 days to fix the problem, even if that runs past the normal cancellation notice period. If the homeowner proves the fix was made, the insurer must offer to renew or reverse its decision. The rules also apply to Georgia's Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan for residential properties. The Insurance Commissioner will write rules covering how homeowners submit proof and the size requirements for the images. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to policies issued or renewed on or after October 1, 2026.

• Requires insurers using aerial, drone, or satellite images to justify an adverse decision (denial, cancellation, non-renewal, coverage cut, or premium hike) to give homeowners dated photo evidence and repair standards.
• Requires insurers to create a contact point and process for homeowners to submit proof they fixed the flagged problem.
• Requires insurers to set up an appeals process for homeowners to dispute errors in an adverse decision.
• Guarantees homeowners at least 60 days to fix the identified problem, even if that exceeds the standard non-renewal notice period under O.C.G.A. § 33-24-46.
• Requires insurers to offer renewal or reverse the adverse decision once a homeowner proves the problem was corrected.
• Directs the Insurance Commissioner to write rules on how homeowners submit proof of repairs and on minimum and maximum image sizes.

Homeowners whose primary residence is insured by an admitted insurer in Georgia, property insurance companies that use aerial or satellite imagery in underwriting and pricing, Georgia's Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan for residential properties, and the state Insurance Commissioner's office, which must write enforcement rules.

Homeowners who lose coverage or see rate increases based on aerial or satellite photos would gain a right to see the evidence, understand what to fix, appeal the decision, and get at least 60 days to make repairs before losing their policy, rather than facing sudden non-renewal.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Insurers' Use of Aerial or Satellite Images Act.'
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 33-9-45, defining terms like 'adverse underwriting decision,' 'aerial images,' 'satellite images,' 'renewal,' and 'reduction in coverage.'
• Subsection (b)(1) requires insurers to include date-stamped images (taken within nine months of the decision) and repair standards when notifying a homeowner of an adverse decision.
• Subsection (b)(2)-(3) requires insurers to set up a contact point for proof of repairs and an appeals process for disputing errors.
• Subsection (b)(4) sets a minimum 60-day cure period for homeowners, overriding the normal non-renewal notice timing in O.C.G.A. § 33-24-46 if needed.
• Subsection (b)(5) requires insurers to offer renewal or reverse the decision once repairs are verified.
• Subsection (c) extends these rules to the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan for residential properties.
• Subsection (d) directs the Commissioner to issue rules on proof submission methods and image size limits.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
4. 2026-02-20Senate Third Read (Senate)
5. 2026-02-09Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
6. 2026-02-06Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-01-16Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-01-15Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)Primary sponsor
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 20, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #566

• homeowners insurance
• aerial imagery
• insurance regulation
• property insurance cancellation
• insurance commissioner rules