Eight new bills became law in Georgia on Monday, with the most significant allowing Georgians with health insurance coverage to see medical specialists even if they’re referred by a physician not covered by the insurance network. Last year, Georgia lawmakers also passed significant legislation that provided income tax refunds to every Georgia taxpayer, created a commission to oversee elected attorneys, and created three new district judgeships, one of which will be filled by a state legislator.
Georgia’s CATCH Act, SB 20, requires insurance providers with network plans to maintain a sufficient number of doctors, physicians, pharmacies, clinical laboratories, and other medical treatment facilities, and empowers the Georgia Insurance Commissioner to determine the adequacy of such plans. The law also prohibits health insurance companies from denying preauthorization for healthcare services if a referral came from a physician outside of the patient’s network, such as an emergency room doctor.
Also related to healthcare, the Mental Health Parity Act, HB 1013, implements recent recommendations of Georgia Behavioral Health Reform related to definitions, reports, and annual data updates regarding mental health care parity among private insurers.
Three laws impact Georgia’s motorists or drivers. HB 453 removed a requirement for ambulance services to pay an annual license fee, HB 175 allows for the issuance of new prestige and special license plates, including for retired and active reserve members of the Georgia National Guard, and HB 120 provides standards related to “limited driving permits for certain offenders” and allows the state to establish “fees, duration, renewal,” replacement and revocation of those permits.
Other laws are designed to protect consumers and Georgians from unfair trade practices and discrimination.
The Georgia Online Automatic Renewal Transparency Act, HB 528, is designed to make online subscriptions more transparent. Companies offering such subscriptions are required to clearly explain that customers will receive a monthly, recurring charge, and to clearly state how customers can cancel the subscription. The law also prohibits third-party delivery services from engaging in commercial activities regarding delivery of food or other items without the consent of the restaurant.
Also passed to protect Georgia consumers, SB 90 requires some individuals and companies “who provide commercial financing transactions to make certain disclosures,” and places restrictions on unsolicited offers from companies to Georgia residents offering to buy their real estate.
Another law, HB 128, provides “representation of minority business enterprises, women owned businesses, and veteran owned businesses in the area of procurement of state contracts for construction, services, equipment, and goods.”
Though made possible through 2022 legislation, Georgia’s income tax rate also fell from 5.75 percent t 5.49 percent on January 1. Current legislation will see the tax rate lowered each year until 2029, when it will be just 4.99 percent, but Governor Brian Kemp (R) recently proposed new legislation to “accelerate” the tax cuts.
Laws that were passed in 2023, and took effect during the same year, included a one-time income tax return, which successfully saw Georgia return about $1 billion in revenue to citizens, and legislation creating three new superior court positions. Amid the openings, a Georgia State Senator was recently appointed to an open judgeship by Kemp.
Georgia legislators also created the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) in 2023, which was designed to investigate and potentially rein in elected prosecutors. Though the PAQC was launched last year, the Georgia Supreme Court effectively paused it by refusing to approve the commission’s proposed rules.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Georgia State Capitol” by DXR CC4.0
