NFIB today thanked Gov. Brian Kemp for signing Senate Bills 68 and 69, two pieces of legislation that support Georgia’s small businesses by helping stop lawsuit abuse.

“Small business owners across Georgia have waited a long time for meaningful lawsuit reform, and we’re incredibly grateful to Governor Kemp for making this a priority,” NFIB State Director Hunter Loggins said. “These bills will go a long way toward restoring fairness in our legal system and protecting small businesses from predatory practices that drive up costs and hinder growth.”

“Senate Bill 68 takes on two of the most pressing legal issues for small businesses: phantom damages and premises liability. Phantom damages refer to the practice of plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for medical bills that were never actually paid. SB 68 corrects this by allowing juries to see the actual amount paid—not just the amount billed—so they can make informed decisions about damages.

“The bill also addresses premises liability by protecting property owners from being held responsible for crimes committed by third parties that they had no reasonable way to foresee or prevent,” Loggins said. “These changes bring greater fairness and common sense to civil litigation.

Senate Bill 69, meanwhile, takes aim at third-party litigation financing, a practice where outside investors fund lawsuits in exchange for a portion of the settlement. The new law will require these groups to register with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, prohibit them from influencing plaintiffs’ decisions on when or how to settle, and ensure jurors know who’s funding the case. “SB 69 is especially important because it shines a light on a shadowy industry that’s more about shaking down defendants than helping victims,” Loggins said.

Stopping lawsuit abuse was NFIB’s No. 1 priority in this year’s session of the General Assembly. In March, the state’s leading small business advocacy organization launched a statewide radio and digital ad campaign urging lawmakers to stop lawsuit abuse in the state.

“On behalf of our small business members, we thank Governor Kemp and the General Assembly for standing up for Georgia’s small businesses and helping them focus on growing their businesses and supporting their communities,” Loggins said.

On Thursday, April 24, NFIB ran a full-page ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thanking the governor for signing SB 68 and SB 69. Click here to read the ad.