Cody Hall, Communications Director for Governor Brian Kemp, urged voters to disregard what he described as empty political rhetoric. He argued that tort reforms have helped lower costs for businesses and consumers in Florida and suggested the potential for similar outcomes in Georgia. Hall made this statement in a post on X dated February 18.
"Ignore the empty rhetoric from those who financially benefit from Georgia's current legal environment and look at the facts," said Hall, Director of Communications. "Florida's tort reforms worked. Georgia needs to do the same for its consumers and small businesses."
According to a Wall Street Journal editorial titled "Florida vs. California Insurance, Round 2," Florida and California have adopted different strategies to manage their property insurance markets amid increasing natural disasters. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis implemented reforms that stabilized the insurance market, resulting in reduced rates. Conversely, California has experienced rising insurance premiums following severe wildfires near Los Angeles, which caused approximately $50 billion in losses. Only $20 billion of these losses were covered by insurance due to state regulations limiting premium rates. Consequently, many California homeowners have resorted to the underfunded state-run Fair Plan, raising concerns about potential socialized costs if the plan becomes insolvent.
In 2024, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) reported a downward trend in property insurance rate filings for the first time in years, indicating market stabilization. This improvement is attributed to legislative reforms enacted in 2022 and 2023 that enhanced consumer protections and encouraged insurer investment. DeSantis further bolstered these efforts by signing House Bill 1611, which introduced additional consumer protections and granted the OIR greater regulatory authority.
A study released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform found that rising tort costs in Georgia are placing an increasing financial burden on households, leading to higher insurance premiums and overall living costs. In 2022, Georgia's tort costs reached nearly $20 billion, averaging over $2,000 per household. These expenses arise from civil litigation, claim compensation, and administrative costs affecting both businesses and consumers.
According to a post on InsuranceRateReporter.com, a survey conducted by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and Munich Re US found that plaintiff lawyer tactics such as third-party litigation funding (TPLF) and jury anchoring are driving up insurance costs with an estimated $529 billion impact on the U.S. economy. The survey revealed that 69% of Americans believe these practices increase insurance premiums while 86% support legal reforms to address the issue. However, a significant portion of respondents remains unaware of these tactics; 75% are unfamiliar with jury anchoring and 70% do not recognize TPLF.
Cody Hall is a political strategist specializing in messaging strategy, media affairs, and public relations for political campaigns, government agencies, and businesses. A University of Georgia graduate, he previously served as press secretary for Brian Kemp’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign and is currently the Director of Communications in the Georgia Governor’s Office.