On April 21, 2025, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bills 68 and 69 into law, enacting what he and other state leaders called “the most comprehensive package of lawsuit reform that our state has seen in nearly two decades.” The new laws revise key elements of Georgia’s tort system, including liability standards and rules governing the admissibility of evidence. Supporters say the legislation is intended to reduce legal costs, improve insurance market stability and align Georgia with neighboring southeastern states.
The effort began in 2023 with the passage of House Bill 1114, which authorized Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King to gather data and issue recommendations on Georgia’s civil litigation environment. Gov. Kemp said the findings revealed a system “desperately” in need of reform, citing input from a wide range of stakeholders like “child care facilities, truckers, restaurant owners, doctors, hospitals, grocery store owners and gas station companies.” All reported increased liability costs driven by rising litigation exposure.
Senate Bills 68 and 69, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John Kennedy, were shaped through extensive committee hearings, roundtable discussions and behind-the-scenes negotiations. Kemp noted the process included over 25 hours of public testimony and resulted in multiple revisions based on concerns raised by lawmakers, industry groups, and legal advocates. He described the final package as a set of “common sense” reforms that aim to bring “transparency and fairness to a process that has been abused for too long.” McGuireWoods Consulting’s February 2025 analysis provides additional context on the factors that shaped this legislation.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones characterized the legislation as the result of a “team effort” that engaged both supporters and opponents. “At the end of the day these bills are good for businesses and they’re good for consumers,” Jones said. Speaker Burns added that testimony gathered during the House’s special subcommittee hearings showed that legal costs were “crippling many companies” and contributing to volatile insurance premiums. He described the bills as a “balanced approach” that protects access to justice while providing relief to job creators and insurers.
Gov. Kemp closed the ceremony by thanking legislative leaders, agency staff and advocates. He remarked, “let’s thank the good Lord we didn’t have to have a special session.”
