A bill filed in the Georgia House by State Rep. Eddie Lumsden would clarify and place restrictions on the period insurers are allowed to request refunds of specific fees and taxes, data from the Georgia State House show.
Submitted as HB1263 on Tuesday, Feb. 10, during the 2026 session of the 158th General Assembly, the bill’s official description reads: ’Insurance; premiums made within three years of payment to the Commissioner; provide for a claim for a refund of certain fees and taxes’.
See our summary below, derived from the official bill text, with possible interpretive details for clarification.
In summary, the proposal modifies Georgia’s insurance laws to create a strict deadline for insurers seeking refunds on fees and taxes related to insurance. Insurers would need to file refund claims in writing with the insurance commissioner within three years of their payment if the fee or tax had been incorrectly or unlawfully collected. Existing procedures for refunds and credits in the code would still apply, and any rules in conflict would be repealed. The measure is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, covering taxable years beginning after that date.
Co-sponsors include Rep. Bruce Williamson (Republican-112th), Rep. Darlene Taylor (Republican-173rd), Rep. Matthew Gambill (Republican-15th), and three additional colleagues.
Lumsden has introduced eight other bills since the legislative session began, with three of those adopted to date.
He graduated from Berry College in 1985, earning a bachelor’s degree.
A Republican, Lumsden has served in the Georgia House since 2013, representing the 12th House District and succeeding Rick Jasperse.
For reference, Georgia’s legislative process starts with a bill drafted by a legislator, often on behalf of constituents, in consultation with the Office of Legislative Counsel. After filing with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate, a first reading occurs before the bill goes to committee. The committee reviews, debates and may recommend changes before it moves to the floor for further debate and voting. To become law, the bill must pass both houses—sometimes requiring reconciliation in a conference committee—and be sent to the governor, who has six days during session or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die) to sign, veto, or take no action, at which point the bill becomes law. The Georgia General Assembly meets each year for a 40-day session starting the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1262 | 02/10/2026 | Insurance; increase amount of monetary penalties authorized to impose for certain violations of the Georgia Insurance Code |
| HB868 | 03/27/2025 | Public officers and employees; certain retiring county officers and their spouses and dependents be included in certain county health plans; provide |
| HB611 | 02/24/2025 | Forever Chemicals Transparency Act; enact |
| HB511 | 02/19/2025 | Insurance; deductions from taxable income for contributions by taxpayers to catastrophe savings accounts and interest earned on such accounts; provide |
| HB238 | 02/04/2025 | Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; create and maintain an at-risk adult training course focusing on officer response to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia |
| HB184 | 01/29/2025 | Georgia Consumer Protection Towing Act; enact |
| HB182 | 01/29/2025 | Life insurance; excluding or restricting liability for certain deaths occurring while an individual is an active duty service member; prohibit |
| HB94 | 01/17/2025 | Insurance; medically necessary expenses for standard fertility preservation services when a medically necessary treatment for cancer, sickle cell disease, or lupus may directly or indirectly cause an impairment of fertility; require coverage |
Research for this article was based on materials from the Georgia State House. The original source is available here.
