HB1015: HB1015 Self-insurers Guaranty Trust Fund; revise certain funded levels

Some Georgia employers are allowed to self-insure for workers' compensation instead of buying insurance. If one of them cannot pay a claim, a backup fund called the Self-insurers Guaranty Trust Fund steps in. State law sets dollar targets that control when the fund's board of trustees can stop or restart charging assessments (fees) to participating employers. This bill raises two of those dollar targets. It raises the level at which regular annual assessments can stop from $15 million to $25 million net of liabilities. It also raises the trigger for a special assessment (an extra charge when the fund's money runs low) from below $5 million to below $10 million net of liabilities. The per-employer assessment amounts and collection rules for unpaid assessments stay the same.

• Raises, in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386(a)(1), the fund balance at which regular annual assessments on participants can stop, from $15 million to $25 million net of liabilities.
• Raises, in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386(a)(4), the fund balance threshold that triggers a special assessment on participants, from below $5 million to below $10 million net of liabilities.
• Leaves unchanged the standard per-employer assessment formula (1.5 percent of prior-year medical and indemnity benefits paid, or $2,000, whichever is greater) and the $8,000 annual cap per participant.
• Leaves unchanged the board's enforcement powers for unpaid assessments, including fines, court judgment, action against pledged security, or revoking a participant's self-insured status.
• Repeals any conflicting laws.

Georgia employers approved to self-insure for workers' compensation, who pay into the fund and face assessments; the fund's board of trustees, who administer the thresholds; and, indirectly, injured workers whose claims the fund backs if a self-insured employer cannot pay.

By raising the balance levels that control when assessments stop or a special assessment kicks in, the fund would build up a larger cash cushion before regular fees pause, and would need to fall further before extra fees on employers are triggered.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386(a)(1) to raise the funded level at which annual assessments cease from $15 million to $25 million net of all liabilities.
• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 34-9-386(a)(4) to raise the trigger for a special assessment from a fund balance below $5 million to below $10 million net of all liabilities, still aimed at restoring the fund to $5 million.
• Section 1 keeps intact the existing per-participant assessment formula, the $8,000 first-year and annual assessment caps, and the fund's collection and enforcement tools for unpaid assessments.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 386
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)Primary sponsor
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 10, 2026

   163 yea, 3 nay (1 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #495

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   46 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #897

• workers' compensation
• self-insurance
• insurance regulation
• state trust funds