83R937 AJA-D
 
  By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 226
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 544.002, Insurance Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to
  an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to
  an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage
  available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is
  different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same
  coverage because of the individual's:
               (1)  race, color, religion, or national origin;
               (2)  age, gender, marital status, or geographic
  location; [or]
               (3)  disability or partial disability; or
               (4)  sexual orientation or gender identity or
  expression.
         (d)  In this section:
               (1)  "Gender identity or expression" means a person's
  having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity,
  appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity,
  appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that
  stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
               (2)  "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived
  heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.