Georgia House bill by author Rep. Reeves expanding insurance enforcement and penalties passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill introduced by State Rep. Matt Reeves aims to strengthen insurance oversight, increase penalties for violations, and enhance fraud controls following approval in both the House and Senate, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Thursday, April 2, clearing the House by a vote of 164-3 and the Senate by a vote of 53-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1344 on Tuesday, Feb. 17 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, effective July 1, 2026, expands the insurance commissioner’s enforcement powers, increases many civil and criminal penalties for insurance-related violations, and tightens reporting and fraud controls. It requires insurers and others to report suspected fraud, raises mandatory assessments and fees supporting a Special Insurance Fraud Fund, and authorizes employment of prosecuting attorneys. It creates new felony offenses for selling or using auto accident information for personal gain, establishes an “Insurance is At Home in Georgia” recruitment program, and sets timelines for claims handling after declared disasters. The bill creates a Georgia Storm Damage Mitigation Program funded with premium taxes and grants, regulates excluded drivers and raises uninsured lapse and restoration fees, bars property policies from shortening suit deadlines below two years starting July 1, 2027, and requires local reporting on use of premium tax funds to reduce insurance costs.

In the House, 73 Democrats and 91 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Democrat and two Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 21 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jon Burns (Republican-159th), Rep. Soo Hong (Republican-103rd), and Rep. Carolyn Hugley (Democrat-141st), along with three other co-sponsors.

Reeves graduated from Mercer University and again from University of Georgia Law School with a JD.

Reeves, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 99th House District, replacing previous state representative Marvin Lim.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 12.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.