Committee approves SB109 to bar insurer exclusions for service members; amendment broadens protection to reservists

Senate Bill 109, presented by Senator Ed Harbison, would prohibit group life-insurance policies delivered in Georgia from containing a provision that excludes or restricts coverage because the insured is a service member. Committee members adopted a friendly amendment to strike the words "active duty" so the protection covers all service members, including reservists not on federal active duty, and passed the bill by committee substitute unanimously.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill closes a gap that allowed a life insurer to deny a benefit to the family of a state employee whose son died while a member of the U.S. military. Supporters framed the measure as narrowly tailored to prevent discrimination against service members and protect military families who rely on employer-provided group life insurance.

Presentation and amendment

Bryce Frost of the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office described the case that prompted the bill: a state employee discovered, when filing a claim after a family member’s death, a clause in a group life policy that excluded deaths "on active duty"; the sponsor and department argued that the clause was discriminatory against service members and required statutory clarification. During committee consideration, senators debated whether the existing draft’s use of the modifier "active duty" might leave a gap for reservists. Senator Dean and others urged language that would protect reserve-component members who are not on federal active duty.

The committee adopted a substitute and a friendly amendment that removed the words "active duty" from the operative clause so the bill bars exclusions based solely on being a service member. After the amendment was adopted, committee members moved and seconded passage. The chair called for a hand vote and recorded seven in favor; the clerk announced the bill passed the committee unanimously.

Action and technical notes

- Motion and amendment: Committee offered a motion to pass the committee substitute; senators approved a friendly amendment to replace "insured is an active duty service member" with "insured is a service member." The committee’s substitute reference was cited in the record as LC 5207.

- Vote: Committee recorded seven members voting in favor and zero opposed.

Sponsors and witnesses

Bryce Frost (Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office) explained the policy background and the drafting intent. Senators present engaged counsel and insurance staff on the statutory language; committee counsel and the sponsor agreed to process the proposed amendment as a committee substitute to ensure the language would block future exclusionary contract provisions affecting service members.

Ending: Following the vote, the committee reported the bill out by committee substitute and adjourned.