HB 830: Insurance; establish State Oversight Board within office of the Commissioner of Insurance

Currently, Georgia's Insurance Commissioner oversees health insurers without a dedicated board focused on coverage denials and delays. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's insurance code (O.C.G.A. Title 33) creating the State Oversight Board within the Commissioner's office. The board would have nine members appointed by the House Speaker, Senate President, Governor, and Commissioner, serving three-year terms without pay beyond expense reimbursement. The board would write rules governing health insurance practices, review insurer data on premiums and prior authorizations, investigate denials and delays in coverage, and be able to fine insurers that violate the law or harm consumers. It must report to the Commissioner yearly starting June 30, 2026, and its meetings must be open to the public. Separately, the bill creates a new legal right: patients harmed by an insurer's wrongful denial or unnecessary delay of coverage can sue for actual damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, and attorney fees. Insurers must report such lawsuits to the Commissioner and the board. The law would take effect July 1, 2025.

• Creates a nine-member State Oversight Board within the Commissioner of Insurance's office, appointed by the House Speaker, Senate President, Governor, and Commissioner.
• Gives the board power to write rules for health insurance practices, review insurer data, investigate denials and delays, and fine insurers that violate the law or harm consumers.
• Requires health insurers to submit requested data to the board and requires the board to report to the Commissioner annually by June 30, 2026.
• Creates a new private right for patients to sue insurers for harm from wrongful denials or unnecessary delays in healthcare coverage, allowing actual damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, and attorney fees.
• Requires insurers to notify the Commissioner and the board whenever such a lawsuit is filed against them.
• Makes board meetings open to the public under Georgia's open meetings law and requires rules to follow the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.

Health insurers operating in Georgia, patients and policyholders seeking healthcare coverage, healthcare providers and hospitals, the Insurance Commissioner's office, and the appointed board members drawn from healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, public sector representatives, and the Commissioner's office.

Patients denied or delayed coverage would gain a specific legal path to sue insurers and collect damages, while a new state board would gain authority to investigate and fine insurers over their handling of claims, changing how disputes over coverage decisions get resolved and enforced in Georgia.

• Section 1 adds Code Section 33-2-35 creating the State Oversight Board with nine members serving three-year terms, appointed by the House Speaker (3), Senate President (3), Governor (2), and Commissioner (1).
• Board members receive no compensation but get expense reimbursement under existing state allowance rules (O.C.G.A. §§ 28-1-8 and 45-7-21).
• The board must meet at least quarterly, can access confidential insurer filings, and must submit an annual report to the Commissioner starting June 30, 2026.
• The board can develop rules, investigate insurer denials and delays, and impose fines or penalties on insurers for harmful practices, with all meetings open to the public.
• Section 2 adds Code Section 33-46-29.1 making insurers liable for harm from unnecessary delays or wrongful denials of coverage, letting covered persons sue for actual and punitive damages, equitable relief, and attorney fees.
• Insurers must notify the Commissioner and the board whenever a lawsuit under this new liability provision is filed against them.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025.

1. 2025-03-28House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-03-27House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-25House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Arlene Beckles (D, HD-096)Patrocinador principal
• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Robert Dawson (D, HD-065)
• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)

• health insurance
• insurance regulation
• prior authorization
• patient rights
• state oversight board