SB603: SB603 "Georgia Insurance Consumer and Policyholder Advocacy Act"; enact

Georgia currently has no dedicated advocate representing consumers in insurance rate disputes, and insurers filing rate changes get relatively quick review timelines under current law. This bill creates an insurance consumer and policyholder advocate position within the Department of Insurance to represent consumers and policyholders in rate hearings, complaint investigations, and appeals. The bill also rewrites several rate-regulation rules in Title 33 of the Georgia code. It adds a standard that rates cannot be unjustifiably increased, extends the Commissioner's rate filing review period from 45 to 60 days, and requires insurers to submit detailed justification, including actuarial reports and impact statements, when a rate filing would raise rates. Any overall increase of 10 percent or more within a 12 month period triggers a mandatory examination of the insurer's claims data, though the Commissioner can waive part of that examination for smaller increases under certain conditions. Rate increase filings must be posted publicly within ten days. The changes take effect July 1, 2026 and apply to policies issued or renewed on or after that date.

• Creates a new insurance consumer and policyholder advocate position inside the Department of Insurance to represent consumers in rate proceedings, complaints, and appeals.
• Adds a rule that insurance rates cannot be unjustifiably increased and requires an open, transparent review for any rate hike of 10 percent or more within 12 months.
• Extends the Commissioner's rate filing review window from 45 days to 60 days for both private passenger auto insurance and other lines of insurance.
• Requires insurers proposing a rate increase to submit actuarial justification, expense breakdowns, impact statements on policyholders, and five years of past rate change history.
• Requires the Department of Insurance to post rate increase filings on its public website within ten days of submission.
• Lets the new advocate request hearings, investigate complaints, and participate in appeals related to rate disputes.

The bill affects Georgia insurance policyholders and consumers across health, life, auto, property, and flood coverage; insurance companies and rating organizations that file rates with the state; and the Georgia Department of Insurance, which must staff the new advocate role and run expanded rate reviews.

If enacted, Georgians buying or renewing insurance policies could see slower approval timelines for rate increases and more public documentation before insurers raise prices by 10 percent or more. A new state advocate would be positioned to challenge rate hikes and represent consumers in disputes they previously had to navigate largely on their own.

• Section 3 creates the insurance consumer and policyholder advocate role in O.C.G.A. § 33-2-4, defining 'insurance consumer' and 'policyholder' and listing the advocate's duties, including reviewing cancellations and educating the public.
• Section 8 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-9-4 to bar rates from being 'unjustifiably increased' and to require special review for any rate increase of 10 percent or more within a 12 month period.
• Section 9 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-9-21 to extend the rate filing review period from 45 to 60 days and to require insurers to submit actuarial reports, expense breakdowns, and impact statements when a filing raises rates.
• Section 9 also requires a mandatory examination of an insurer's claims data for overall increases of 10 percent or more in 12 months, with a possible partial waiver if the increase is under 25 percent and the Commissioner has enough information already.
• Section 9 requires rate increase filings to be posted on the department's public website within ten days of submission.
• Section 10 sets standards the Commissioner must use to approve a rate increase, requiring clear supporting data, financial necessity, and compliance with anti-discrimination rules.
• Section 11 authorizes the advocate to investigate consumer complaints about rates and request hearings if a violation is found.
• Section 13 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after that date.

1. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)Primary sponsor
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)

• insurance rates
• consumer protection
• Georgia Department of Insurance
• auto insurance
• insurance regulation