Georgia Republicans push to limit lawsuits. But would that keep insurance rates from rising?

Kemp stands in front of a group of legislators at the Georgia State Capitol, speaking at a podium.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announces education and school safety proposals during a press conference at the State Capitol on Monday, January 13, 2025. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Natacha Pisarenko / Natacha Pisarenko

The pitch from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is simple: Putting limits on lawsuits will halt rising insurance costs.

The reality, though, is more complicated.

Changes could reduce liability insurance costs for businesses and commercial property owners. The evidence is mixed on whether it would drive large premium reductions for car and other types of insurance. And some researchers say efforts limiting lawsuits, often called tort reform, fattens insurers’ profits more than it cuts the price of policies.