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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to availability of claims contact information for personal |
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and commercial property and casualty insurers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 32.101, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.101. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. Except as |
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otherwise provided by this subchapter, this [This] subchapter |
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applies to insurers who comprise the top 25 insurance groups in the |
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national market and who issue residential property insurance or |
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personal automobile insurance policies in this state, including a |
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Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, a county |
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mutual insurance company, a farm mutual insurance company, the |
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Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the FAIR Plan Association, |
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and the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 32.1025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.1025. CLAIMS CONTACT INFORMATION. (a) |
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Notwithstanding Section 32.101, this section applies to each |
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insurer writing personal or commercial property or casualty |
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insurance in this state, including a Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or |
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interinsurance exchange, a county mutual insurance company, a farm |
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mutual insurance company, the Texas Windstorm Insurance |
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Association, the FAIR Plan Association, and the Texas Automobile |
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Insurance Plan Association. |
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(b) The department shall establish and maintain an Internet |
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website that lists each insurer writing personal or commercial |
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property or casualty insurance in this state and provides for each |
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insurer: |
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(1) a telephone number used to file a claim with the |
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insurer; or |
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(2) a link to the Internet website used to file a claim |
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with the insurer. |
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SECTION 3. Section 32.103, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.103. PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING INTERNET |
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WEBSITE. The department shall publicize the existence of an [the] |
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Internet website required by this subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. Section 32.104, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.104. DUTIES OF INSURER. (a) On the request of the |
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department, an insurer, including an insurer to which Section |
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32.1025 applies, shall provide to the department any information |
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the department and the office of public insurance counsel determine |
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is reasonable or necessary to fulfill the department's and the |
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office of the public insurance counsel's duties under this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) An insurer shall provide in a conspicuous manner with |
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each residential property insurance or personal automobile |
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insurance policy issued in this state notice of the Internet |
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website required by Section 32.102 [this subchapter]. The |
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commissioner shall determine the form and content of the notice. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |