A sweeping new insurance reform measure signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp is expected to bring significant changes for Georgia homeowners, drivers and insurance companies.

House Bill 1344, known as the “Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act,” was signed into law earlier this month after receiving overwhelming support in the Georgia General Assembly. Supporters say the legislation is designed to improve transparency, crack down on fraud and help make insurance more affordable across the state.

The new law increases roughly 40 fines and penalties for insurance companies that violate laws or policy provisions during the claims process. Lawmakers say the goal is to make claims processing faster, fairer and more accountable for policyholders.

HB 1344 also strengthens enforcement of uninsured motorist laws and includes new measures targeting insurance fraud, including tougher enforcement against staged accidents and illegal solicitation practices connected to crash victims.

One major portion of the legislation focuses on storm damage and homeowner protection. The bill enhances Georgia’s Fortified Homes program, which helps homeowners strengthen roofs and structures against severe weather damage. Lawmakers say the program could help reduce storm-related insurance claims and lower long-term costs for both insurers and homeowners.

The legislation also places new restrictions on how insurance companies can use aerial and satellite imaging when evaluating homes. Under the new law, insurers using aerial images to cancel or refuse to renew a homeowner’s policy must provide copies of the images and give homeowners time to address any issues before coverage is dropped.

Additional provisions require local governments to report how insurance premium tax revenue is being used to help reduce insurance costs for citizens. The bill also limits premium tax refund requests to three years and guarantees policyholders at least two years to file property and casualty insurance claims.

The measure further includes provisions related to insurance policies for short-term rentals such as Airbnb and vacation rental properties.

Supporters of the bill say Georgia has faced rising insurance costs in recent years, especially following severe weather events and increased claims costs. Lawmakers behind the legislation say the reforms are intended to improve consumer protections while stabilizing the state’s insurance market.

Most provisions of HB 1344 are scheduled to take effect July 1.