Insurance Premium Relief + Early Literacy Act
The House has been working diligently this week to pass measures that make life better for our neighbors across the state, from landmark early literacy policies and historic insurance affordability reforms to a fiscally responsible budget and public safety initiatives.
Landmark Literacy Legislation Receives House Passage
Georgia’s children are our future, and their future begins with the opportunity to receive a quality education. Right now, only one in three students can read at grade level by the time they leave the third grade. On Tuesday, the House took decisive action to change that narrative and bring us one step closer to ensuring every child learns to read.
House Bill 1193, the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, is arguably the most impactful education legislation passed by the House since the HOPE Scholarship was created three decades ago. HB 1193 proposes placing a literacy coach in every single K-3 elementary school, setting standards for grade-level promotion, getting more students to attend kindergarten, and providing every new family with books and literacy resources to take home, laying the groundwork for generational change in our education system.
The House also took the first steps to address another major barrier to literacy facing our state’s children, vision and hearing. Chairlady Leesa Hagan’s House Bill 1402 passed out of committee yesterday and would require students to be screened for vision and hearing annually from pre-K through third grade. We look forward to getting this priority across the finish line next week.
Celebrating the House Passage of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 with Education Chairman Chris Erwin
Insurance Premium Relief for Georgia Policyholders
Georgia is leading the nation in tackling affordability and driving down the cost of living for our neighbors—from energy and healthcare to housing and insurance. Georgians rely on their insurers during some of life’s most challenging moments, and we are committed to ensuring families across our state can count on transparency, accountability, and reliability from the companies they trust to keep them covered.
Yesterday, the House passed a historic package of insurance reform developed by the House Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Insurance Rates, Chairman Matt Reeves, and Insurance Commissioner John King.
HB 1262 significantly increases fines that can be levied against insurance companies for surprise billing, failure to cover mental health treatment, and other violations.
HB 1263, the Premium Tax Clawback Act, shortens the time insurance companies have to seek refunds for premium tax payment errors to three years.
HB 1274, the Excess Auto Insurance Profits Act, requires insurance companies that profit above five percent of their expected profit for three consecutive years to file a rate decrease. A similar law in Florida resulted in a $1 billion rebate to customers.
HB 1344, the Insurance Affordability & Claims Integrity Act, increases nearly 40 insurance fines in Georgia’s insurance code, strengthens the authority of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to levy fines against bad actors, enforces Georgia’s uninsured motorist laws, cracks down on insurance fraud, and tightens up Georgia law about claims processing following storms and other damage.
AFY 2026 Budget
The General Assembly’s only constitutionally required obligation during the legislative session is to pass a fiscally responsible, balanced budget. On Wednesday, we did just that with the passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.
This budget represents a strong, commonsense plan that invests wisely in Georgia’s future and puts more money back in the pockets of hardworking Georgians.
Check out some of the highlights from the AFY 2026 Budget below:
We’re only one week away from crossover day, which is the last day a bill has to pass from one chamber to the other for consideration this legislative session.
I hope to hear from each of you about the policies and measures that matter most to you as the House prepares for a busy week ahead. Have a great weekend!
My best,
Speaker Jon Burns