Gabriel Sterling, Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Secretary of State's office, expressed approval following the passage of Governor Brian Kemp's tort reform bill by the State Senate. "Solid day at the Georgia Legislature," he said, adding that the next step is for it to pass through the House and reach Kemp's desk. This was shared in a social media post on February 21.
"Solid day at the Georgia Legislature with the passage of Gov Kemp's Tort Reform bill out of the State Senate," said Sterling. "Now we need to see it passed out of the House and sent to Kemp's desk."
According to a press release from Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Bill 68, a significant tort reform measure sponsored by Kennedy, successfully passed in the Senate. The bill seeks to reduce excessive litigation costs that Kennedy claims are inflating expenses for healthcare providers and businesses. He described it as an essential move towards enhancing Georgia’s legal environment and economic competitiveness. The legislation now awaits consideration in the Georgia House.
Sterling's Feb 21 statement
| X.com
On February 7, 2025, Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) released a poll indicating that 72% of Georgia voters believe lawsuit abuse contributes to increasing costs of goods and services. The poll showed bipartisan support across Republicans (88%), Independents (64%), and Democrats (62%). Conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from February 2-5, 2025, it also revealed that 85% of voters consider addressing lawsuit abuse crucial for eliminating hidden consumer taxes. Additionally, 82% of individuals who have engaged personal injury lawyers favor reforms to the current system.
A study published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform on January 24 highlighted that rising tort costs in Georgia are imposing a growing financial burden on households, affecting insurance premiums and overall living expenses. In 2022, these costs amounted to nearly $20 billion statewide, averaging over $2,000 per household due to civil litigation-related expenses.
InsuranceRateReporter.com reported on February 18 about a survey conducted by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and Munich Re US. It found that plaintiff lawyer tactics like third-party litigation funding (TPLF) and jury anchoring contribute significantly to rising insurance costs with an estimated $529 billion impact on the U.S. economy. The survey noted that while 69% of Americans believe these practices raise insurance premiums and 86% support legal reforms against them, many remain unaware of such tactics—75% unfamiliar with jury anchoring and 70% not recognizing TPLF.
Sterling serves as both COO/CFO for the Georgia Secretary of State and interim director of its Professional Licensing Division. His previous roles include political consultancy for state and federal campaigns as well as business operations consultancy for private firms.