Georgia's tort system is set for a makeover after the state Senate passed a tort reform bill, Senate Bill 68, which seeks to overhaul litigation processes within the state. In a move celebrated by Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy from Macon, the legislation aims to cut down what proponents see as excessive litigation costs impacting healthcare providers, businesses, and consumers alike.
Citing a steep increase in litigation costs over recent years, Kennedy stated, "Since 2016, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has estimated that litigation costs have risen 7.1% per year—far outpacing inflation." He argued that such expenses, resulting in part from what he refers to as "nuclear verdicts and frivolous lawsuits," are imposing a financial burden averaging $5,035 annually on Georgian households, according to a statement obtained by Senate Press. Kennedy also expressed concern over the impact of these costs on local businesses and healthcare, highlighting that pregnant women in rural areas are now facing long travels to access OB-GYN services, as small hospitals shutter under financial strain.
Kennedy sees this legislation as a remedy to the issue stating, "It's time to restore fairness and stability to our civil justice system, and today's passage of SB 68 is a critical step in that direction," according to Senate Press. His remarks emphasize the effects of litigation on various aspects of Georgia life, including job security and access to healthcare. Sen. Kennedy, who carried SB 68 in the Senate, was acting on behalf of Governor Brian P. Kemp, for whom tort reform was a key item in his agenda for the 2025 Legislative Session.
While Kennedy and his supporters hail the bill as a means to revitalize small businesses and healthcare services within the state, details on the mechanisms of how SB 68 will achieve these goals remain to be seen. As the bill heads to Gov. Kemp's desk, Georgia's residents and businesses await further details, and its actual impacts, on their communities.
