Key Texas Insurance Bills From The 89th Regular Legislative Session

The topic of insurance often causes glazed eyes in some readers not immersed in the industry, but insurance was a hot topic coming into the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature. Interest stemmed not only from ongoing concerns about health insurance and pharmaceutical costs, coverage, and access but also from an increasing concern about the availability and affordability of property & casualty insurance. Some property and casualty insurers have pulled out of the Texas market or curtailed their Texas offerings, and many legislative constituents have expressed concerns about increases in homeowners rates across the state. Coastal area residents have also raised concerns over windstorm insurance access and affordability. As a result, proposals that would not have seen much interest in years past achieved some traction this session, such as bills filed to change the state's "file and use" system (that in general allows insurers to file rates without pre-approval