BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1060

88R11929 CJD-D

By: Hughes

 

State Affairs

 

3/24/2023

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Insurers rely on actuarial assessments of risk in deciding whether to insure a person and how much that insurance should cost. Recently, activist shareholders have attempted to impose additional burdens on insurers, seeking to limit the provision or terms of insurance based on factors beyond risk and cost.

 

S.B. 1060 prohibits insurers from implementing shareholder proposals that prohibit or limit a company from providing insurance to specific business sectors or based on certain non-economic factors.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1060 amends current law relating to the adoption of political shareholder proposals by insurers and insurer holding companies.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle A, Title 6, Insurance Code, by adding Chapter 806, as follows:

 

CHAPTER 806. CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, OR POLITICAL FACTORS

 

Sec. 806.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "holding company," "insurer," and "political shareholder proposal."

 

Sec. 806.002. POLITICAL SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS PROHIBITED. Prohibits an insurer or holding company organized under the laws of this state from:

 

(1) including a political shareholder proposal in a proxy statement; or

 

(2) implementing a political shareholder proposal.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.