Committee reviews bill to clarify military active‑duty exclusion in group life policies

Chairman Lumsden convened the Life and Health subcommittee of the Full House Insurance Committee to hear House Bill 182, a measure sponsored to clarify an exclusion in Georgia law that insurers have interpreted to deny group life insurance benefits to some active‑duty service members.

The bill, presented to the subcommittee by Chairman Lumsden, would tighten the statutory language describing when life insurance exclusions related to military service apply. Insurance Commissioner King told the subcommittee the measure responds to a case in which a family’s claim was denied after a soldier was killed in a traffic accident while on leave.

"We think we need to correct this particular situation in the exception in the code," Insurance Commissioner King said, urging clearer language so that insurers treat routine active duty the same as civilian life in most circumstances. King described the denied claim as having come to the Department of Insurance via a corrections employee whose son, an active‑duty soldier, died in a traffic accident.

Representative Sandra G. Scott, who identified herself as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, thanked the sponsor and urged bipartisan support. Representative Matt Reeves noted the number of active‑duty service members living in Gwinnett County and said the change could affect many families statewide.

The bill’s sponsor described the intent as narrowing the military exclusion to combat or war‑zone service or other specifically high‑risk military activity, rather than applying to all active duty. The subcommittee discussion focused on the scope of the exclusion and the bill’s drafting language; legal counsel language was cited as necessary to accomplish the change.

No vote was taken in the subcommittee; the bill was heard to record and to begin the committee process. Chairman Lumsden indicated the subcommittee would forward the bill along the committee path in keeping with standard procedure.

Why it matters: Committee members and the insurance commissioner said the measure is meant to prevent routine active‑duty status from triggering an exclusion intended for combat or high‑risk military operations. Advocates and lawmakers framed the bill as clarifying legislative intent after at least one family’s claim was denied.

What’s next: The subcommittee heard the bill and accepted testimony; no formal vote was recorded.