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Committee backs bill to require sellers to disclose a home's flood history
Summary
House Bill 618 would require sellers of residential property to disclose a property's flood history to prospective buyers, aligning seller obligations with existing landlord disclosure rules, supporters said; the American Flood Coalition testified in favor.
The Georgia House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 618 on Oct. 27, a bill that would require sellers of residential real property to disclose the property’s flood history to prospective buyers.
Supporters told the committee that renters in Georgia already have a statutory right to flood-disclosure from landlords and argued that buyers deserve the same information. Anne Brody, state government relations director at the American Flood Coalition, testified in support and described the measure as “a simple bill” and “a no cost policy” that mirrors disclosure laws adopted in other states.
Brody said sellers would complete check-box disclosures and attach forms; supporters argued that routine disclosure would encourage more homeowners to carry flood insurance and reduce insurance costs over time by raising take-up rates.
Committee members offered no substantive amendment during the hearing; the committee approved the bill by voice vote and moved it forward.
