After months of fierce debate, legislation pledging for insurance reforms passed the House by the slimmest of margins: one vote. Senate Bill 68 is a priority of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp during the 2025 Legislative Session. The bill seeks to limit excessive lawsuits and create an even-handed litigatio n environment in Georgia’s courts. Supporters of tort reform say stopping frivolous lawsuits and payouts would lead to lower insurance rates for businesses and consumers. Their argument is if Georgia is the number one state to conduct business, it cannot be a ‘judicial hellhole’. That means, business owners feel payouts are entirely too high. “We live in a society now where nothing is your fault anymore,” said Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in January. “It’s always somebody else’s blame. Insurance is set up to make you whole. That’s the definition of it. It is not a lottery ticket.”Three Democrats, Representatives Michelle Au, Mack Jackson and Carl Gillard voted for it. Notably, Tyler Paul Smith, Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, was one of the Republicans that voted against it.The bill now heads back to the Senate for further consideration.Governor Kemp praised Speaker Burns for pushing his bill over this considerable hurdle.“Thanks to the hard work of Speaker Jon Burns and his chamber, today we’ve taken another major step towards enacting meaningful tort reform in Georgia,” Kemp said on social media. “As we keep working for final passage, thank you to all those helping to stabilize runaway costs and return true fairness to our courtrooms.”Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns is flanked by House Republican leadership during a press conference on March 20, 2025 inside the House Chamber at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)What’s in the bill?The House version of the bill has made concessions for those who are sex trafficking victims. Also, the discussion regarding payouts can be split into parts during the trial phase. First a court decides who is responsible, then how much money should be given, and finally, if there should be extra penalties or fees. Those funds can be arbitrary based on each case. Plaintiffs can only ask for monies that cover medical costs if and only if they are “necessary and reasonable.” Plus,  Lawyers are prohibited from telling the jury how much money they think someone should get for their pain and suffering. Only the jury can decide. Georgia State Representative Omari Crawford speaks against Senate Bill 63 on March 20, 2025 inside the House Chamber at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)Opponents say Senate Bill 68 addresses a problem that does not existGeorgia State Rep. and Minority House Caucus Chair, Tanya Miller, shared her story regarding what inspired her to become a lawyer: to advocate for her mother. She becoming a lawyer ‘made a child who grew up with instability feel safe where there was a place that truth mattered.’During the debate, Miller took to task the people whom she felt were persuaded by the idea that Georgia is a judicial hell hole. She also addressed the idea that high insurance payouts prevent small business owners from successfully running their companies. “Last year, we were fine,” Miller said. “We were lamenting the fact that we were the ‘number one place to do business.’ But this year, my God, we are crushed and overwhelmed by an emergency in our judicial system? It is a lie.  It has proven to be a lie.”Miller characterized Senate Bill 68 as ‘a Sham’. “Take the time to research it,” Miller said. “Since the 1990s they’ve been saying jackpot verdicts, Juries are out of control. Businesses are closing, doctors fleeing the state. Every time the campaign is run the same way, with the same talking points, the same manufactured crisis.”Miller said Senate Bill 68 was ‘one of the most poorly drafted bills’ she has ever read. She passionately explained how toxic this legislation can be.  “You’re going to tell me, it’s okay. If you’re a 12 year old girl who’s been sex trafficked, you can still go to court,” Miller said. “Why? Because you have the political favor? You are the political dujour? But, a 12 year old who just got raped in the stairwell of an apartment complex. Who knew they had a dangerous condition and failed to do anything? Well, ‘I’m sorry, my dear, the courthouse doors for you are closed.’”Democrats call out members that broke ranksGeorgia State Rep. Stacey Evans, a Democrat from Atlanta, was among those vehemently opposing the measure. She had choice words for Democrats that broke the caucus position on Senate Bill 68.“This bill is bad for people,” Evans said during her press conference. “This bill is bad for victims. So not only did they break a caucus position, which undermines our ability as a caucus to move forward to the majority, but they let down their voters, and I hope their voters will make them account for it.”Georgia House Representative Stacey Evans speaks during a press conference on March 20, 2025 inside the House Chamber at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)What’s next?The legislation is headed back to the Senate for final passage, as the bill is currently written. Speaker Burns chiefly believes this bill will cross the finish line. “The common-sense solutions provided by Senate Bill 68 protect the rights of Georgians who have been harmed while ensuring that the scales of justice in our courtrooms are fair and balanced,” Burns said. “We look forward to working alongside the Senate to champion this critical lawsuit reform across the finish line.”Conversely, the Senate Democrats are preparing for a robust fight. State Senator Derek Mallow, a Democrat from Savannah, says he will review the legislation, but he will never vote for a bill that is against the working people in Georgia.”Georgia House Senator Derek Mallow speaks during a press conference on March 20, 2025 inside the House Chamber at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)“Until I see a bill that holds the insurance companies accountable,” Mallow says. “I see a bill that says if you have health insurance and you’re in an auto accident, they can’t deny your claim. Until they cannot play the game of ‘delay, deny, defend’, until that happens, I will never vote for a bill that goes against the working folks in this state. The post Bill promising tort reforms, Gov. Kemp’s key legislative issue, narrowly passes Georgia House appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less