How will the Georgia Legislature impose lawsuit award limits?
Just a few days into Georgia’s 2025 legislative session, proposed new limits on lawsuit awards is a priority trumpeted by business groups, some lawmakers and the governor alike as one of the top issues of the year.
At last week’s State of the State address, Gov. Brian Kemp emphasized the importance of passing legislation to transform Georgia’s legal landscape by the end of the 2025 session in early April, citing a rise in insurance rates or difficulty acquiring coverage that he says threatens businesses across the state.
“Small business owners reported insurance premiums up anywhere from 30% to over 100% over the last few years, costing them hundreds, hundreds of thousands or millions or more just to get basic coverage,” he said during his address. “For too many of them, that meant holding back on hiring more employees, waiting to grow their business, or making difficult decisions about whether or not they could even keep the lights on. For others, the biggest problem was a complete lack of insurance options or the threat of paying thousands or millions to fend off excessive lawsuits.”
HB 1114 – Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act Report
The following report was conducted as a result of House Bill 1114, the “Data Analysis for Tort
Reform Act,” Effective Date 04-22-2024. Under the legislation, the Georgia General Assembly
tasked the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (herein “OCI”) with collecting
and providing an in-depth analysis of insurance claims data to identify policy levers for tort reform
legislation. Our findings reveal crucial insights for policymakers to improve the efficiency of the
insurance industry and enhance the overall legal landscape. This executive summary provides a
concise overview of our key observations and recommendations.