29 bills; 28 votes unfavorable to consumers; 1 vote “present, not voting”
Access to the Courts – Cut off all debate and precluded any amendments on major so-called tort “reform” legislation, which further restricts citizens’ legal rights and remedies.
(HB 274 / RV 846 / HJ, p. 3199-3200) Voted: Unfavorably.
Preliminary passage of so-called tort “reform” legislation, which further restricts citizens’ legal rights and remedies.
(HB 274 / RV 847 / HJ, p. 3200-3201) Voted: Unfavorably.
Enables wrongdoers to escape responsibility by pointing the finger at an empty chair third party after deadlines have passed.
(HB 274 / RV 850 / HJ, p. 3213-3214) Voted: Unfavorably.
Empowers the legislature to approve Supreme Court rules regarding early dismissal of lawsuits without presentation of evidence.
(HB 274 / RV 854 / HJ, p. 3218-3219) Voted: Unfavorably.
Empowers the legislature to approve Supreme Court rules to speed up the resolution of smaller cases.
(HB 274 / RV 855 / HJ, p. 3219-3220) Voted: Unfavorably.
Passed, as amended, major so-called tort “reform” legislation, which further restricts citizens’ legal rights.
(HB 274 / RV 857 / HJ, p. 3220-3221) Voted: Unfavorably.
Auto Insurance – Requires auto insurers to report on data mining technology they use, provides for administrative penalties for any violations that are discovered, and requires the Texas Department of Insurance to report to the legislature on these activities.
(HB 1951 / RV 943 / HJ, p. 3503-3504) Voted: Unfavorably.
Requires auto insurance companies to cover the cost of replacement for a child safety seat following a moderate or severe collision.
(HB 1951 / RV 978 / HJ, p. 3630) Voted: Unfavorably.
Homeowners and Auto Insurance – Allows insurers to force vulnerable policyholders into binding arbitration, taking away their constitutional right to a trial.
(HB 1951 / RV 936 / HJ, p. 3442-3443) Voted: Unfavorably.
Prohibits insurers from basing employee, agent, or adjuster compensation on the denial or delay of claims payments or cancellation or non-renewal of policies.
(HB 1951 / RV 937 / HJ, p. 3444) Voted: Unfavorably.
Requires insurers to provide coverage and payment for the days policyholders are subject to an emergency evacuation order.
(HB 1951 / RV 939 / HJ, p. 3490) Voted: Unfavorably.
Creates a prior approval regulatory system that requires home and auto insurers to submit their rates to the Texas Department of Insurance and receive approval by the commissioner before they go into effect in the marketplace.
(HB 1951 / RV 940 / HJ, p. 3499) Voted: Unfavorably.
Refunds or provides premium discounts to policyholders who have been overcharged and adds interest at 18 percent.
(HB 1951 / RV 941 / HJ, p. 3500-3501) Voted: Unfavorably.
Punishes home and auto insurers who charge excessive or unfairly discriminatory rates with an administrative penalty of $100 per policy.
(HB 1951 / RV 942 / HJ, p. 3501-3502) Voted: Unfavorably.
Bans the use of credit scoring by carriers selling personal insurance.
(HB 1951 / RV 944 / HJ, p. 3509-3510) Voted: Unfavorably.
Prohibits insurers from putting arbitration clauses in insurance policies, thereby preserving the constitutional right to trial by jury.
(HB 1951 / RV 945 / HJ, p. 3511-3512) Voted: Unfavorably.
Changes the insurance commissioner from a position appointed by the governor to one decided through a statewide election, making the commissioner directly accountable to the voters.
(HB 1951 / RV 946 / HJ, p. 3516-3517) Voted: Unfavorably.
Requires homeowners and auto insurers to list the top variables they use in determining a policyholder’s premium.
(HB 1951 / RV 977 / HJ, p. 3627-3628) Voted: Unfavorably.
Protecting Polluters – Removes provision that would have immunized polluters with government permits.
(SB 875 / RV 1431 / HJ, p. 5453) Voted: Unfavorably.
Windstorm Insurance – Final passage of legislation reforming the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and restricting policyholders’ legal rights and remedies.
(HB 3 / RV 139 / HJ, p. 626) Voted: Unfavorably.
Streamlines TWIA procedures by providing for the automatic renewal of windstorm insurance policies as long as the property is insurable or until the policy is cancelled.
(HB 3 / RV 84 / HJ, p. 439-440) Voted: Unfavorably.
Preserves full legal rights and remedies for policyholders insured through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, putting them on an equal footing with other policyholders across the state.
(HB 3 / RV 85 / HJ, p. 442-443) Voted: Unfavorably.
Ensures availability of windstorm insurance coverage, preventing cherry-picking of policyholders in less desirable parts of the coast.
(HB 3 / RV 86 / HJ, p. 443-444) Voted: Unfavorably.
Streamlines claims handling problems within the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association by establishing a “single adjuster” program where the underlying property insurer’s adjuster reviews and adjusts the claim.
(HB 3 / RV 88 / HJ, p. 446) Voted: Unfavorably.
Preliminary passage of legislation reforming the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and restricting policyholders’ legal rights and remedies.
(HB 3 / RV 89 / HJ, p. 447) Voted: Unfavorably.
Preserves legal rights and remedies, extends deadlines, and creates protections for active duty members of the United States Armed forces who are deployed overseas and whose homes have been affected by a wind-related catastrophe.
(HB 272 / RV 925 / HJ, p. 3372) Voted: Unfavorably.
Caps windstorm insurance agent commissions at 10%.
(HB 272 / RV 927 / HJ, p. 3376) Voted: Present Not Voting.
Protects policyholders’ rights in the appraisal process regarding the extent or cost of damage to the property.
(HB 272 / RV 929 / HJ, p. 3379) Voted: Unfavorably.
Creates transparency for an expert panel, which plays a large part in determining the outcome of policyholders’ disputes about windstorm coverage.
(HB 272 / RV 930 / HJ, p. 3381-3382) Voted: Unfavorably.
Regards,
Jim
Andy Hailey