Legislative

Following its passage by the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, the full Senate will soon hear HB 1940, a bill that will allow eligible surplus lines insurers to provide windstorm and hail insurance, regardless of available coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency (TWIA).

Sen. Brandon Creighton laid out the bill for the committee, noting that under it, residents would be free to purchase coverage from TWIA or a surplus lines insurer willing to insure their property.

“This would expand the insurance options to tier 1 county residents, without changing or limiting their access to TWIA and other markets,” Creighton said. “House Bill 1940 would complement TWIA’s effort to depopulate, as every policy written by a surplus lines insurer would be one less policy that would require insurance through TWIA.”

Beaman Floyd, Director of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions, spoke briefly in favor of the bill, stating that it would bring additional insurance capital to the seacoast tier 1 space.

The Senate committee voted to pass the bill on Thursday, May 2, 2019, with a vote of 8-0, with one member absent.

As the 86th Texas Legislature continues, session deadlines are fast approaching. The session, which began on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, will adjourn on Monday, May 27, 2019.

With nearly 10,000 bills and resolutions filed in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, only about 1,900 have been passed by both the Senate and House. A large majority of these are resolutions to recognize individuals or organizations. As of April 30, only 20 bills had been passed. While 50 resolutions have been signed by the Governor, no bills have progressed this far.

Each chamber of the Legislature follows rules that dictate deadlines for certain actions that must be taken. The chart below provides more information on dates of action in the Texas Senate and House.

On the last day of session, only corrections can be made in the Senate and House. Gov. Greg Abbott may sign or veto bills that were passed during session until the 20th day following adjournment, or Sunday, June 16, 2019. Any bills passed during the regular session that did not include a specific effective date will take effect on Monday, August 26, 2019, on the 91st day following final adjournment of the 86th Legislature.