State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) recently told the Rome News – Tribune that fighting insurance fraud would be one of his priorities in the upcoming legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly.

Lumsden, who serves as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, said that much of his focus will be on legislation that protects consumers. Georgia is No. 2 in the country for insurance fraud, ranking only behind Florida.  Lumsden says that this fraud costs the average family between $400 and $700 annually.

Lumsden stated, “We are constantly looking for ways to tackle fraud across the state. I am working on updating our budget processes to allow us to fully fund the Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division to better tackle insurance fraud across the state. We are also strengthening our relationships with local law enforcement and DAs to better prosecute those individuals who commit fraud.”

Lumsden, a retired state trooper,  is married to Teresa Lumsden – a State Farm Insurance agent in Floyd County.  He represents all of Chattooga County and a large portion of Floyd County in the Georgia General Assembly.