Gwinnett County — Representatives of the insurance industry, motor‑coach operators and small‑employer advocates told the House study committee that high liability costs and constrained markets threaten businesses and community services across Georgia.

Ken Presley and Mitch Guralnick of the Georgia Motor Coach Owners Association said bus and coach operators now face markedly higher liability premiums since the pandemic — examples cited in testimony included policies that previously cost $10,000–$12,000 per coach rising to $45,000–$60,000 per coach — and that only a handful of insurers remain willing to write the federally required $5 million liability limits. The witnesses warned that company closures reduce service, hurt tourism and eliminate jobs.

Mark Mixer, an insurance executive, urged wider adoption of individual coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) as a way to preserve benefits for small employers and employees. Mixer described ICHRAs as a federally governed option that shifts benefit purchasing to employees while allowing employers to define contributions; he said an appropriately structured state tax credit to encourage early adoption would repay itself in roughly 3.7 years through restored premium tax receipts.

Independent agent Mike Royal and other witnesses described carriers reducing capacity or 'cherry‑picking' lines and classes of business. Royal said umbrella carriers have cut back limits they will place in Georgia and that reinsurance treaty increases are driving higher excess prices.

What’s next: Witnesses provided data and asked the committee to consider targeted reforms for assigned‑risk pools, tort‑reform follow‑up, and incentives to support small‑employer coverage options. The committee asked for written materials and data submissions for the report.