SB504: SB504 Commissioner of Insurance; lobbying restrictions within five years after leaving office; provide

Currently, Georgia law does not stop a former Commissioner of Insurance from immediately going to work as a lobbyist for the insurance industry he or she used to regulate. This bill would change that by adding a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. Chapter 2 of Title 33). The bill defines the "insurance industry" broadly as any entity regulated by the Commissioner, including companies whose paid lobbyists deal with the Commissioner or with matters the department oversees. Anyone who has served as Commissioner would be barred from registering as a lobbyist or lobbying in the insurance industry for five years after leaving office. A person who breaks this rule could face a civil fine of up to $10,000 for each insurance industry entity they lobbied for.

• Creates a new five year ban on former Insurance Commissioners registering as lobbyists or lobbying for the insurance industry after leaving office.
• Defines 'insurance industry' broadly to include any entity the Commissioner regulates or any entity whose paid lobbying touches the department's regulatory work.
• Sets a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per insurance industry entity for a former Commissioner who violates the lobbying ban.
• Adds this new rule as O.C.G.A. § 33-2-35 within the chapter governing the Department of Insurance and the Commissioner.

The bill directly affects anyone who serves as Georgia's Commissioner of Insurance, limiting what lobbying work they can take after leaving office. It also affects insurance companies and industry groups that might otherwise hire a former Commissioner to lobby the department on their behalf.

If enacted, a former Commissioner of Insurance could not immediately turn around and lobby the department or insurance companies for five years, which would change the career options available right after leaving that office and could affect how insurance companies recruit former regulators for lobbying work.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 33-2-35 to Chapter 2 of Title 33, defining 'insurance industry' as any entity regulated by the Commissioner or connected to paid lobbying aimed at the Commissioner or the department's regulatory matters.
• Subsection (b) prohibits a former Commissioner from registering as a lobbyist or lobbying in the insurance industry for five years after leaving office.
• Subsection (c) sets a civil penalty of up to $10,000.00 per insurance industry entity for anyone who violates the lobbying restriction.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)Primary sponsor
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)

• insurance regulation
• lobbying restrictions
• state government ethics
• Commissioner of Insurance