Legislative Advocacy
Legislative Accomplishments
Your Support in Action: ICT Secures Wins at the Texas Capitol
Participating in the Insuring Texas PAC lays the groundwork for meaningful legislative victories.
Highlights of ICT’s advocacy during the 89th Legislative Session include:
Protecting Texas’ Competitive Market & Regulatory Structure
ICT successfully defeated SB 1642 and SB 1643, which would have imposed burdensome new oversight and prior approval requirements on property and casualty rates.
Strengthening TWIA Funding
ICT collaborated to secure passage of HB 3689, strengthening TWIA’s funding model by authorizing up to $2 billion in sustainable and transparent pre- and post-event financing from the state, reducing reliance on costly debt. Going forward, ICT will continue to advocate for reasonable reinsurance and rate adequacy decisions.
Promoting Mitigation & Resilience
ICT championed HB 1576, a major mitigation initiative to create a homeowner grant program for retrofitting properties against hurricane and windstorm damage. This bill is the first major state resiliency effort to ever pass either house, setting the stage for continued advocacy in the future.
Preserving Appraisal Process Integrity
ICT held the line on SB 458, protecting the integrity of the contractual appraisal process in personal lines while defeating costly mandates pushed by special interests and preserving key flexibility for insurers.
Ensured Balanced AI Regulation for P&C Insurers
ICT helped ensure HB 149 protected consumers while avoiding market disruption, securing language that preserved the Insurance Commissioner’s authority and aligned with existing insurance law regarding unfair discrimination rather than imposing a new standard.
89th Legislative Session
ICT champions initiatives that encourage and support a competitive and stable property and casualty market. To promote this overarching view, ICT has identified the following priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature.
ICT’s priorities for the 89th legislative session
- Maintain market stability and prevent disruptions to rate and form laws.
- Reduce litigation abuse.
- Strengthen the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s (TWIA) funding structure to reduce reliance on debt.
- Explore alternative funding sources (such as state investment).
- Opposing added costs or shifting expenses to member insurers.
Support mitigation and resilience strategies.
- Prevent abuses in the contractual appraisal process for personal lines.
Oppose mandated parts and processes in personal auto that raise the cost to repair and increase pressure on rates..
- Protect consumers from fraud and abuse in auto and home repairs after they have suffered a covered loss.
- Find workable solutions for AI and insurance regulation that protect consumers but avoid duplicative regulation and market disruption.
Legislative Updates
For updates on how ICT is serving members during the legislative session, log into the ICT Member InfoHub.
Texas’ special legislative session
THC Regulation
Lawmakers will revisit proposed regulations on consumable hemp products like vapes and gummies. A broad ban was passed but vetoed by Abbott; now, the session aims to close legal loopholes while balancing public health concerns with the interests of the hemp industry.
Disaster Preparedness and Relief
In response to deadly flooding over the July 4 weekend, lawmakers are being asked to strengthen emergency systems, including flood warning sirens, disaster communications, and relief funding for affected communities.
Redistricting and Conservative Policy Goals
Abbott has also directed lawmakers to redraw some congressional districts, influenced in part by national political pressure. Additional items include bans on abortion pills, local government lobbyists, and a “bathroom bill” requiring use based on sex assigned at birth.
Medical Marijuana and Hemp Industry Concerns
While the state's limited medical marijuana program was expanded, industry advocates warn that broad restrictions on THC could shutter hemp businesses and limit access to non-psychoactive compounds like CBD and CBG.
ICT's Political Action Committee - Insuring Texas PAC
The Insuring Texas PAC (PAC) is the political action committee of the Insurance Council of Texas. Our mission is to advance the interests of Texas property and casualty insurers while maintaining a strong Texas insurance marketplace. Here, you can learn more about our efforts and how you can support them.