Life Insurance; certain protections for life insurance policyholders and beneficiaries; provide
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 25 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to life insurance, so as to provide for certain protections for life insurance policyholders and beneficiaries; to provide for an owner of a life insurance policy or annuity to be represented by a local agent when such policy or annuity is sold; to provide for such owner to be represented by a local agent when such agent does not have a contract with such insurer; to provide such owner with an annual notice report on such policy or annuity; to require an insurer to conduct a quarterly search of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' policy locator; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 5, 2025
Last action Mar 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
As introduced LC 52 0699
→
As Passed Senate
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify its purpose and expand policyholder protections by adding more specific rights, including the right to retain original agents of record, access policy documents through a standardized form, and receive annual status reports. The language was reorganized to better define terms and establish clearer procedures for insurers to follow.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include more detailed definitions of policyholder rights and specific requirements for insurers regarding agent retention and document disclosure.
DEFINITION
The bill's purpose statement was rewritten to include specific rights such as retaining original agents, accessing policy information, and receiving annual reports.
REQUIREMENT
Added a new subsection requiring insurers to maintain original agents of record even after policy transfers, with annual reporting to those agents.
Added a standardized form requirement for policyholders to authorize third-party access to policy documents, including specific limitations on what the authorized recipient can do.
TIMELINE
Updated reporting deadlines to January 1, 2027 for beneficiary protection searches and annual reporting to the Commissioner.
ENFORCEMENT
Added requirements for the Commissioner to publish a plain-language statement of policyholder rights and send it to all insurers.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026
How they voted
44–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 48
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic19
89% Yea
R
Republican29
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced
Senate Hopper
upper
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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