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HB 1355

Workers' compensation; update law on experience modification factors, refusal of suitable employment procedures, and certain benefits

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Werkheiser

Georgia HB 1355 modifies workers' compensation rules on insurance premium calculations, employment refusal procedures, and benefits to balance employer costs and worker protections.

House Second Readers
#laborandindustrialrelations
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Bill Summary · HB 1355

Legislative bill overview

HB 1355 updates Georgia's workers' compensation law by modifying experience modification factors (which affect insurance premiums based on claim history), revising procedures for when injured workers refuse suitable employment, and adjusting certain benefit provisions. The bill aims to modernize workers' compensation regulations that govern how employers' insurance costs are calculated and how benefits are administered when workers decline job offers during recovery.

Why is this important

Workers' compensation systems directly affect injured workers' financial security and employers' operational costs. Changes to experience modification factors influence insurance premiums for businesses, potentially affecting hiring and wage decisions. Modifications to refusal-of-work procedures impact whether injured workers maintain benefits and how quickly they must return to employment, creating real consequences for workers in recovery and employers managing claims.

Potential points of contention

  • Balance between employer and worker interests: Stricter refusal-of-work procedures may pressure injured workers back to jobs before full recovery, while lax standards could increase costs for employers and insurers
  • Premium calculation fairness: Changes to experience modification factors will redistribute insurance costs between businesses with different claim histories, potentially disadvantaging small employers or those in high-risk industries
  • Benefit adequacy: Adjustments to benefit levels could affect whether injured workers can meet living expenses during recovery periods, particularly for lower-wage workers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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